PIZAETUS SNEOTROPICAL RAPTOR NETWORK NEWSLETTER ISSUE 31 JUNE 2021 GERANOSPIZA CAERULESCENS IN EL SALVADOR FALCO SPARVERIUS IN EL SALVADOR HARPIA HARPYJA IN BRAZIL HARPAGUS BIDENTATUS IN VENEZUELA SPIZAETUS ORNATUS IN ARGENTINA GERANOAETUS POLYOSOMA IN ARGENTINA SpizaetusNRN Newsletter Issue 31 © June 2021 English Edition, ISSN 2157-8958 Cover Photo Crane Hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens) photographed in Panama © Yeray Seminario, Whitehawk Birding & Conservation Editors/Translators Daniel Young and Marta Curti Graphic Design Marta Curti Spizaetus: Neotropical Raptor Network Newsletter © June 2021 www.neotropicalraptors.org This newsletter may be reproduced, downloaded, and distributed for non-profit, non-commercial purposes. To republish any articles contained herein, please contact the corresponding authors directly @neotropicalraptors.org neotropicalraptor Table of Contents Rescue and care of two Crane Hawk (GERANOSPIZA CAERULESCENS) nestlings in El Salvador Luis Pineda, Mónica Pacas-Mejía & Raúl Molina-Fuentes ......................................................4 Nesting and Distribution of American Kestrel (FALCO SPARVERIUS) [Linnaeus, 1758] in El Salvador Luis Pineda, Danilo Orellana, Julio Pereira, Hermes Ramos & Christian Aguirre-Alas .......................9 Double-toothed Kite (HARPAGUS BIDENTATUS) nesting in Yurubí National Park, Yaracuy State, Venezuela Miguel Ángel Torres, Juan Escudero & Jesús Escudero .............................................................29 Rescue, rehabilitation, and release of an Ornate Hawk-Eagle (SPIZAETUS ORNA- TUS) in Misiones Provincia, Argentina Gabriel S. Acevedo & Dante L. Di Nucci ...........................................................................37 The influence of solar altitude on the Variable Hawk (GERANOAETUS POLYOSOMA) behavior in the Valle de Tafi,Tucuman, Argentina Thania Moreno Ten, Esteban Martínez Pastur, Daniel Andrés Dos Santos, Rodigo Araoz & Diego Ortiz...............................................................................................................................43 Conversations from the Field: Interview with Everton Miranda about his work with Harpy Eagles (HARPIA HARPYJA) in Brazil Markus Jais.....................................................................................................................50 Upcoming RRF and RRN Conference..................................................................57 Of Interest ............................................................................................................59 The NRN is a membership-based organization. Its goal is to aid the research and conservation of Neotropical raptors by promoting communication and collaboration among biologists, raptor enthusiasts, and other conser- vationists working in the Neotropics. To join please e-mail the NRN coordinator, Marta Curti, at mcurti@ peregrinefund.org, stating your interest in Neotropical raptor research and conservation. RESCUE AND CARE OF TWO CRANE HAWK (GERANOSPIZA CAERULESCENS) NESTLINGS EN EL SALVADOR By Luis Pineda1, Mónica Pacas-Mejía2 and Raúl Molina-Fuentes2 1Dirección General de Ecosistemas y Biodiversidad, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MARN). San Salvador, El Salvador 2Escuela de Biología, Universidad de El Salvador (UES) San Salvador, El Salvador email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] The Crane Hawk (Geranospiza caerule- et al. 2001, Ridgely and Gwynne 2005, Vallely scens) is a species of bird in the Accipitridae fam- and Dyer 2018). It is distributed from Mexico ily, characterized by its hoooked beak and sharp to northern Argentina and Uruguay (Ridgely and talonsT (Ridgely and Gwynne 2005). It measures Gwynne 2005). In general, its habitat ranges from between 43-51 cm tall and has a wingspan of the upper understory to the canopy and edges of 98 cm. It has a small head and a thin appear- semi-humid to humid second-growth broadleaf ance, long reddish-orange legs, red irises, and forests, swamps, mangroves, and marshes. It is long, rounded wings. It has slate black feathers, more common in dense gallery forests in arid or with white barring on the lower part of the belly, semi-humid regions (Friedmann et al 1950, Val- thighs and subcaudales. Its tail is long and black lely and Dyer 2018). with two wide white stripes (Fagan and Komar The first records ofG. caerulescens in El Salvador 2016, Vallely and Dyer 2018). date from the 1930s, when Dickey and van Ros- The Crane Hawk forages in the woods, clumsily sem (1932) reported it as a fairly common resi- hopping from branch to branch. It can hang up- dent in the coastal plains of the country, and less side down in search of rodents, bats, small birds, common in the surroundings of the Lempa River, frogs, lizards, snakes, and large insects hidden in reaching as far as Colima. Komar et al. (2007) epiphytes and crevices. Occasionally it goes down proposed a national distribution where they con- to the ground. It also flies low over open boggy sider it as a Critically Endangered, resident, forest areas in a harrier-like manner. Occasionally it generalist. Pérez León (2007), in his study on di- soars, somewhat resembling a Buteo hawk (Sutter urnal raptors and the effect of fragmentation and Page - 4 Issue 31 • June 2021 Figure 1. Crane Hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens) nestlings found in the vicinity of San Diego Beach, La Lib- ertad Department, El Salvador. Photos © Samuel Pérez other environmental factors on biological diver- Cuscatlán and Cabañas, and in the Normandía sity, describes G. caerulescens as a resident, wet- Natural Protected Areas (NPA), Usulután De- land specialist. Currently in El Salvador, this spe- partment, San Diego and San Felipe Las Barras, cies mainly frequents coastal marine ecosystems, Santa Ana Department, and in Santa Rita-Barra wetlands, mangroves, and areas near rivers (Fagan de Santiago, Ahuachapán Department. Morazán and Komar 2016). Important sites where the spe- is the only department that does not have records cies has been recorded are Bahía de La Unión, for this species in eBird. Although Funes and Bo- department of the same name, Bahía de Jiquilis- laños (2014), in their research on the avifauna of co, Usulután Department, Laguna El Jocotal, Normandía NPA, mention that G. caerulescens San Miguel Department, Cerrón Grande reser- nests at this site, no detailed information exists. voir, Chalatenango Department, San Salvador, www.neotropicalraptors.org Page - 5 On 25 May 2020, in the vicinity of San Diego Between 25 May and 18 June, the growth and Beach, La Libertad Department, at 13° 28'22.53 development of the nestlings was observed. Ini- "N; 89° 16'3.76" W, a nest with two Crane Hawk tially, they had been covered in white down with nestlings was found. The nest, built in a coco- some black feathers emerging on the wings and nut tree (Cocos nucifera), had been accidentally part of the neck, their legs were yellowish / or- knocked down when trees in the area were being ange and their eyes were yellow (Figure 1). Over pruned. the month, their black feathers emerged nearly completely, which covered their entire bodies, ex- The nestlings were rescued by local community cept for their faces, which were ash white. The members. Local authorities then transfered them eyes were still yellow and their legs began to turn to the veterinary medical clinic of the Ministry more orange (Figure 2). of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) located in the department of San Salvador for vet- During their rehabilitation, they were initially erinary and ethological medical evaluation, and hand-fed (with pincers) pieces of chicken. Two rehabilitation. A medical check-up revealed that weeks later, they were provided chopped chicken both nestlings were in good condition. meat to eat on their own. Subsequently, they were provided a more varied diet that included day-old Figure 2. Immature Crane Hawks undergoing reha- bilitation - clear changes in their plumage over time are visible. Photos © Dennys Valdez. Page - 6 Issue 31 • June 2021 Figure 3. Current status (October 31, 2020) Crane Hawks (Geranospiza caerulescens) in the process of rehabili- tation, immature plumage. Photo © Wilber Ruíz. chicks and mice cut into pieces. After 45 days, the time of the writing of this publication, the the birds were provided whole day-old chicks and two hawks remain under periodic veterinary mice, which were opened slightly to provide the medical controls and ethological observation, to birds with easy access to exposed muscles, intes- determine when they should be released accord- tines, and the internal cavity. Finally, 15 days lat- ing to the indications of the veterinary medical er, live chicks and mice were placed in the kennel staff and the biologist in charge (Figure 3). (carrier cage). These findings and observations reveal the impor- On 19 June 2020, the juvenile hawks were trans- tance of wildlife rehabilitation centers. In addi- ferred to the La Cañada Quarantine Center in La tion, they can be useful to generate interest in this Unión Department. Here, they would begin their species and motivate detailed research on it in El conditioning stage prior to their release. To build Salvador. their flight skills, they were flown in an open area, Acknowledgments uising falconry techniques. We thank Miguel Gallardo and Marcela Angulo On 31 October, according to J. Coto and K. Ru- from MARN, for the institutional support. To bio (pers. comm.) both hawks were healthy. At Kattia Gómez, Dennys Valdez, Veterinary Doc- www.neotropicalraptors.org