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Dryad

South Florida cavity nest webs: nest inspection data, photographs, and videos

Cite this dataset

Diamond, Joshua; Ross, Michael (2021). South Florida cavity nest webs: nest inspection data, photographs, and videos [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.h18931zh0

Abstract

Nest data, photographs, and videos from an investigation of cavity nest webs in Miami, Florida, and the surrounding region.  One spreadsheet organizes each cavity-bearing tree with by number.  The second spreadsheet records each individual cavity present, with records of inspection.  Photographs and videos were taken with a pole-mounted camera built to inspect the inside of woodpecker cavities.

 

Methods

The list of cavity trees starts with an ID number which links this dataset to the list of nest inspections.  The date is the first time the cavity-bearing tree was recorded.  Ecosystem and tree species are noted.  The notes section includes any tips for relocating the nest tree, as well as any access issues and other thoughts.  The tree status is typically recorded as snags, live trees, or utility poles.  Initially non-woodpecker cavities were recorded here and the column "WP" indicates whether the tree has woodpecker caivities.  Tree height is in meters, DBH in cm, decay class on 1-9 scale, treetop condition intact or broken.  The following cavities are the number of woodpecker holes, number of holes which are enlarged, incomplete excavations.

The nest inspection notes use the same ID number as the other dataset.  Date recorded notes when the individual cavity was first recorded.  Early on, this differed from the recording of trees, but later is usually concurrent.  Other columns are linked to the first dataset, including survey location, ecosystem, tree species, and notes.  The original excavator of the cavity is noted, with OE certainty determined by direct observation of excavation.  Other measurements match the previous spreadsheet, but nest height and diameter refer to the entrance hole.  Cavity age is O for old or N for new.  Seasons 1 and 2 refer to animals found in two successive nesting seasons.  Nest inspections follow the format of Visit date followed by narrative description in Inspection.  

Photographs and videos taken from the project are in a zipped folder called Nest Camera Videos and Pictures.  Contains over 5,000 picture and video files.  Each folder is dated, allowing comparisons between data narratives and results.

Funding

The Florida International University Tropics Program and the Susan S. Levine Trust