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Expanding urbanization into previously undisturbed Sonoran Desert habitat has led to public concern over the removal and destruction of large saguaros. Loss of these large cacti typically leads to a reduction in the number of cavity nesting birds which depend on saguaros for nesting and roosting sites. Development mitigation plans have been established requiring transplantation, salvage and replacement of saguaros in certain development sites. However, no research has been conducted to determine whether native wildlife species utilize transplanted saguaros at the same rate as non-transplanted cacti. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of saguaro transplantation on their relative use by cavity nesting birds as compared to use of non-transplanted saguaros. In the Sabino Springs Development and the Raven Golf Course, Tucson, Arizona, 94 transplanted saguaros and 26 non-transplanted saguaros were selected for observation of cavity nesting activity. Each saguaro in the study was monitored during the breeding season approximately once every two weeks to observe cavity nesting activity by birds. Preliminary results indicate that nest success in non-transplanted saguaros was higher than in transplanted saguaros. Specifically, 61.5% of non-transplanted saguaros had nestlings or fledged young while only 28.7% of transplanted saguaros had nestlings or fledged young. The results of this study may lead to revised development mitigation standards.