The Journal of Raptor Research Volume 36 Number 4 December 2002
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The Journal of Raptor Research Volume 36 Number 4 December 2002 Published by The Raptor Research Foundation* Inc . THE RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. (Founded 1966) OFFICERS PRESIDENT: Brian A. Miu sap SECRETARY: Judith Henckel VICE-PRESIDENT: Keith L. Bildstein TREASURER: Jim Fitzpatrick BOARD OF DIRECTORS NORTH AMERICAN DIRECTOR #1: INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR #3: Philip Detrich Beatriz Arroyo NORTH AMERICAN DIRECTOR #2; DIRECTOR AT LARGE #1: Jemima ParryJones Iaurie J. Goodrich DIRECTOR AT LARGE #2: Petra Bohall Wood NORTH AMERICAN DIRECTOR #3: DIRECTOR AT LARGE #3: Michael W. Collopy Jeff P. Smith DIRECTOR AT LARGE #4: Carol McIntyre INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR #1: DIRECTOR AT LARGE #5: Robert N. Rosenfield Eduardo Inigo-Elias DIRECTOR AT LARGE #6; Ed Henckel INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR #2: Ricardo Rodriquez-Estrella EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR: James C. Bednarz, Department of Biological Sciences, P.O. Box 599, Arkansas State University, State University, AR 72467 U.S.A. ASSOCIATE EDITORS James R. Beithoff Marco Resi ani Clint W. Boai. Ian G. Warkentin Joan L. Morrison Troy I. Wellicome Juan Jose Negro BOOK REVIEW EDITOR: Jeffreys. Marks, Montana Cooperative Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812 U.S.A. SPANISH EDITOR: Cesar Marquez Reyes, Instituto Humboldt, Colombia, AA. 094766, Bogota 8, Colombia EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Rebecca S. Maul, Kristina Baker, Joan Clark The Journal of Raptor Research is distributed quarterly to all current members. Original manuscripts dealing with the biology and conservation of diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey are welcomed from throughout the world, but must be written in English. Submissions can be in the form of research articles, short communications, letters to the editor, and book reviews. Contributors should submit a typewritten original and three copies to the Editor. All submissions must be typewritten and double-spaced on one side of 216 X 278 mm (8% X 11 in.) or standard international, white, bond paper, with 25 mm (1 in.) mar- gins. The cover page should contain a title, the author’s full name(s) and address (es). Name and address should be centered on the cover page. If the current address is different, indicate this via a footnote. A short version of the title, not exceeding 35 characters, should be provided for a running head. An abstract of about 250 words should accompany all research articles on a separate page. Tables, one to a page, should be double-spaced throughout and be assigned consecutive Arabic numer- als. Collect all figure legends on a separate page. Each illustration should be centered on a single page and be no smaller than final size and no larger than twice final size. The name of the author (s) and figure number, assigned consecutively using Arabic numerals, should be pencilled on the back of each figure. Names for birds should follow the A.O.U. Checklist of North American Birds (7th ed., 1998) or another authoritative source for other regions. Subspecific identification should be cited only when pertinent to the material presented. Metric units should be used for all measurements. Use the 24-hour clock (e.g., 0830 H and 2030 H) and “continental” dating (e.g., 1 January 1999). Refer to a recent issue of the journal for details in format. Explicit instructions and publication policy are outlined in “Information for contributors , Raptor Res., Vol. 36(4), and are available from the editor. Submit manuscripts to J. Bednarz at the address listed above. COVER: Bald Eagles {Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Painting by John Schmitt. Contents Foraging Ecology of Nesting Bald Eagles in Arizona, w. Grainger Hunt, Ronald e. Jackman, Daniel E. Driscoll, and Edward W. Bianchi 245 Vernal Migration of Bald Eagles from a Southern Colorado Wintering Area. Alan R. Harmata 256 Does Northern Goshawk Breeding Occupancy Vary with Nest-stand Character- istics ON THE Olympic Peninsula, Washington? Sean p. Finn, Daniel e. Variand, and John M. Marzluff 265 Subordinate Males Sire Offspring in Madagascar Fish-Eagle {Hauaeetus vocife- ROIDES) PoLYANDROUS BREEDING GROUPS. Ruth E. Tingay, Melanie Culver, Eric M. Hallerman, James D. Fraser, and Richard T. Watson 280 Nesting and Perching Habitat Use of the Madagascar Fish-Eagle. James Berkeiman, James D. Fraser, and Richard T Watson 287 Use of Vegetative Structure by Powerful Owls in Outer Urban Melbourne, Victoria, Australia—Implications for Management. Rayiene Cooke, Robert Waiiis, and John White 294 Nest-site Selection of the Crowned Hawk-Eagle in the Forests of Kwazulu- NATAL, South Africa, and TaI, Ivory Coast. Gerard Malan and Susanne Shultz 300 Short Communications Juvenile Dispersal of Madagascar Fish-Eagles Tracked by Satellite Telemetry. Simon Rafanomezantsoa, Richard T. Watson, and Russell Thorstrom 309 Prey of the Peregrine Falcon (Falco Peregiunus cassini) in Southern Argentina and Chile. David H. Ellis, Beth Ann Sabo, James K. Tackier, and Brian A. Millsap 315 An Elevated Net Assembly to Capture Nesting Raptors. Eugene A. Jacobs and Glenn A. Proudfoot 320 Florida Bald Eagle {Hauaeetus leucocephalus) Egg Characteristics. M. Alan Jenkins, Steve K Sherrod, David A. Wiedenfeld, and Donald H. Wolfe, Jr. 324 Osprey Ecology in the Mangroves of Southeastern Brazil. Robson Silva e Silva and Fabio Olmos 328 Diet of Breeding Tropical Screech-Owls (Otus chouba) in Southeastern Brazil. Jose Carlos Mottajunior 332 Letters Comments of the First Nesting Record of the Nest of a Slaty-backed Forest Falcon {Micrastur MIRANDOUEJ) IN THE ECUADORIAN AMAZON. Russell Thorstrom 335 Micrastur or Acupiter, That is the Question. Tjitte de Vries and Cristian Melo 337 Book Reviews. Edited byJeffery S. Marks 338 Information For Contributors 340 Index to Volume 36 344 The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc. gratefully acknowledges funds and logistical support provided by Arkansas State University to assist in the publication of the journal. THE JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. VoL. 36 December 2002 No. 4 /. Raptor Res. 36(4):245-255 © 2002 The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc. FORAGING ECOLOGY OF NESTING BALD EAGLES IN ARIZONA W. Grainger Hunt/ Ronald E. Jackman, and Daniel E. Driscoll Predatory Bird Research Group, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 93060 U.S.A. Edward W. Bianchi Entrix, 7919 Folsom Blvd., Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 93826 U.S.A. Abstract.—^We studied foraging ecology of nesting Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in Arizona during 1987-89, with emphasis on the influence of dams and river flow regulation. We examined diet, foraging modes, habitat selection, fish abundance, and factors associated with fish availability. Based on biomass, prey remains yielded 76% fish, 14% mammals, and 10% birds. On rivers, eagles primarily caught live fish as they spawned or foraged in shallow water, whereas, on reservoirs, most fish were obtained as carrion or as they floated moribund on the surface. Fish communities differed among river reaches and reservoirs, and ecological and life-history characteristics influenced vulnerability and sea- sonal differences in exploitation, Water temperature, a principal factor determining fish community structure among eagle territories, was also associated with temporal differences in fish availability, as was flow and turbidity. Few prey sources remained constant throughout the reproductive cycle, and prey and habitat diversity buffered temporal changes in prey availability. We conclude that dams benefit breeding eagles to the extent that they create water temperature discontinuities and additional aquatic habitats, some that support large populations of fish. However, environments modified by dams are not necessarily better for Bald Eagles than those on free-flowing sections of rivers; our data show that Bald Eagle reproduction in the two settings is nearly identical. Key Words: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus; dams; habitat selection; home range, piscivory; radiotelem- etry; rivers. ECOLOGIA DEL FORRAJEO DE AGUILAS CALVAS NIDIFICANDO EN ARIZONA Resumen.—Estudiamos la ecologia de forrajeo de aguilas calvas {Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nidificando en Arizona durante 1987-89, con enfasis en la influencia de los embalses y la regulacion del flujo de los rios. Examinamos la dieta, modos de forrajeo, seleccion de habitat, abundancia de peces, y factores asociados con la disponibilidad de peces. Tomando como base la biomasa, los restos de presas arrojaron 76% peces, 14% mamiferos, y 10% aves. En los rios, las aguilas ante todo capturaron peces vivos cuando estos desovaban o forrajeaban en aguas someras, mientras que, en los reservorios, la mayoria del pescado fue obtenido como carrona o cuando flotaban moribundos sobre la superficie. Las comunidades de peces difirieron entre los limites de los rios y las caracteristicas ecologicas y de su historia de vida las cuales influyeron en la vulnerabilidad y las diferencias estacionales en la explotacion. La temperatura del agua, un factor primordial determinante de la estructura de la comunidad ictica entre los territorios de las aguilas, fue asociada ademas con las diferencias temporales en disponibilidad de peces, tal como lo fue con el flujo y la turbidez. Pocos recursos de presas permanecieron constantes a traves de todo el ciclo reproductivo, y las presas y diversidad de habitats amortiguaron los cambios temporales en la disponibilidad de presas. Concluimos que los embalses benefician las aguilas que estan reproduciendose en el sentido en que crean discontinuidades en la temperatura y habitats