Conservation Assessment for Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo Lineatus)
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Conservation Assessment for Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) USDA Forest Service Eastern Region December 2002 Prepared by: John P. Jacobs Neville Public Museum of Brown County 210 Museum Place, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54303, E-mail: [email protected] Eugene A. Jacobs Linwood Springs Research Station 1601 Brown Deer Lane, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481 E-mail:[email protected] Conservation Assessment for Red Shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus) 1 This Conservation Assessment was prepared to compile the published and unpublished information on Red- shouldered Hawks. It does not represent a management decision by the U.S. Forest Service. A Conservation Approach will be developed later and conservation measures incorporated into Forest Plans; public involvement will occur via the NEPA process. Although the best scientific information available was used and subject experts were consulted in the preparation of this document, it is expected that new information will arise. In the spirit of continuous learning and adaptive management, if you have information that will assist in conserving this species, please contact the Eastern Region of the Forest Service Threatened and Endangered Species Program at 310 Conservation Assessment for Red Shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus) 2 Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203. Table of Contents Executive Summary........................................................................................................................ 5 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgements......................................................................................................................... 7 Nomenclature and Taxonomy......................................................................................................... 7 Description of Species .................................................................................................................... 9 Description and range of subspecies............................................................................................. 11 Prey and Hunting Methods ........................................................................................................... 12 Habitat........................................................................................................................................... 15 Distribution and Abundance (Rangewide and Regionwide) ........................................................ 22 Biology and Natural History......................................................................................................... 25 Movements.................................................................................................................................... 28 Dispersal ....................................................................................................................................... 28 Spatial Structure............................................................................................................................ 30 Demographics ............................................................................................................................... 31 Reproduction................................................................................................................................. 32 Mortality, Survival and Rates of Population Change ................................................................... 34 Annual mortality rates are estimated to be approximately 48-58% for the 1st year and 20-25% for adults 2 years and older (based on Henny 1972, Newton 1979, and computer modeling Jacobs and Jacobs unpub. data using Red-shouldered Hawk reproductive data). Band recovery data appears to be the only mortality information available for Red-shouldered Hawks. However, these data (from Henny 1972) are known to be subject to bias (Newton 1979). Table 4 compares life table models generated by a computer population model (PD: Population Dynamics modeling, version 4.0 (c) 1989 by J.W. Grier, Zoology Dept., N.D. State Univ., Fargo, ND) using Henny's information (1972) and data for Wisconsin (Jacobs and Jacobs 2000). Table 5 presents eight possible Red-shouldered Hawk mortality rates for Wisconsin. Striving for a stable population over 50 years, several computer simulations were calculated varying the mortality rates slightly but keeping reproduction constant at 1.1 yg/active nest (the reproductive average found for Wisconsin in the 1990's). Simulations # 5 (50% for 1st year, 22% for adults), although much lower than Henny’s estimate, appears to be the most plausible Red-shouldered Hawk mortality rate for Wisconsin. This rate produces a stable or slightly increasing population over 50 years and is within the range of possible mortality rates discussed in Newton (1979). Mortality rates might tend to be higher in Michigan, Ohio and other more southern states because their reproduction rates are higher. 34 Population Status and Viability .................................................................................................... 35 Illinois ........................................................................................................................................... 38 Potential Threats ........................................................................................................................... 40 Summary of Existing Management Activities and Habitat Protection......................................... 43 Indiana........................................................................................................................................... 49 Monitoring and Research.............................................................................................................. 50 Survey Protocol............................................................................................................................. 55 General Research Priorities for Red-shouldered Hawks .............................................................. 57 Conservation Assessment for Red Shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus) 3 TABLES, MAPS and FIGURES .................................................................................................. 58 Table 1 Wisconsin Red-Shouldered Hawk Reproduction 2000 ........................................... 58 TABLE 4 LIFE TABLE MODEL COMPARISON OF POPULATION IN ......................... 59 EACH AGE CLASS, HENNY TO JACOBS............................................................................... 59 Parameters Henny Jacobs .................................................................................................. 59 Age Class % of birds in age class ....................................................................................... 60 TABLE 7 SPRING PHENOLOGY FOR NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN 1996-2000........ 61 IA 3 4 9 75 39................................................................................................................... 64 MO 12 12 7 78 40................................................................................................................... 64 WI 14 40 41 73 41................................................................................................................... 64 IN 16 12 21 83 38................................................................................................................... 64 MI 17 35 22 58 23................................................................................................................... 64 OH 17 23 33 94 52................................................................................................................... 64 IL 5 5 5 72 28............................................................................................... 64 AVE. 12 19 20 76 37.......................................................................................... 64 TABLE 11. HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS FROM 0.04 HA (0.1 ACRE) RED-SHOULDERED HAWK NEST PLOTS. ................................................................................................................................ 65 ______________________________________________________________________________________ ....... 65 Study Nest Tree Nest Tree Basal Area Distance to Nest Height............................ 65 X SE X SE X SE X SE X SE................................................................................................... 65 ______________________________________________________________________________________ ....... 65 Dykstra et al. 30.9 1.1 65.7 3.9 34.2 2.6 30.2 8.7 --- ....................................................... 65 Ohio n=63 * ................................................................................................................................... 65 Jacobs and Hnilicka 24.4 2.0 52.2 10.1 31.9 0.8 45.1 33.3 14.3 2.8 .............................................. 65 WI n=19 ........................................................................................................................................ 65 Michigan Wisconsin Indiana............................................................................................... 70 References..................................................................................................................................... 73 APPENDICES .............................................................................................................................