Range Improvement Practices and Ferruginous Hawks

Howard, Richard P.; Wolfe, Michael L.

doi:10.2307/3897686

Cited by 26 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…During the nestling period in Alberta, ferruginous hawks relied primarily (89 % of biomass) on sciurid rodents (Schmutz et al 1980); lagomorph prey is of primary importance elsewhere (Howard and Wolfe 1976;Smith and Murphy Sociobiology 1978). Densities of breeding ferruginous hawks already have been shown to fluctuate in concert with the abundance of black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) in Utah (Smith et al 1981).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Populations of ferruginous and Swainson's hawks increase in synchrony with ground squirrels

Schmutz¹,

Hungle²

1989

Can. J. Zool.

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We compared changes in the densities of breeding ferruginous (Buteo regalis) and Swainson's hawks (Buteo swainsoni) over a period of 9 years with the abundance of a major prey species, Richardson's ground squirrel (Spermophilus richardsonii). We used the amount of poison distributed by landowners annually in their attempts to reduce crop damage by ground squirrels as an index of ground squirrel abundance. Though ground squirrel abundance was positively correlated with hawk density overall, the hawks differed in their responses to changing prey density. Breeding density and fledging success of the ferruginous hawk, a food specialist, were consistently correlated with squirrel abundance. The density of Swainson's hawks increased only where grassland was interspersed with agricultural fields. Fledging success of Swainson's hawks was not correlated with ground squirrel abundance. We suggest that the availability of small prey in spring affected breeding dispersion and reproductive success of Swainson's hawks.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Populations of ferruginous and Swainson's hawks increase in synchrony with ground squirrels

Schmutz¹,

Hungle²

1989

Can. J. Zool.

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“…However, Howard and Wolfe (1976) found that conversion of shrubland to crested wheatgrass did not adversely affect ferruginous hawk reproduction in Idaho and Utah. Instead, ferruginous hawks were able to exploit different prey in seeded grasslands compared to native desert shrub habitats in their study.…”

Section: Land Conversion From Shrubland To Grasslandmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…However, above 30 percent cultivation, ferruginous hawk density declined, as did the abundance of ground squirrels, the primary prey species on the study area. Several other researchers have reported a negative relationship between breeding ferruginous hawks and cultivation; only 1 percent of nests in Idaho and Utah had traces of cultivated land in the vicinity (Howard 1975, Howard andWolfe 1976), and only 3 percent of nests in South Dakota were on cultivated land (Blair 1978). Similarly, only 2 percent of ferruginous hawk nests in Oregon were on cultivated lands, much less than expected based on availability (Cottrell 1981).…”

Section: Land Conversion To Agriculturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many specific management tools or strategies have been published whose aim is to conserve or increase ferruginous hawk populations (Howard and Wolfe 1976, Howard and Hilliard 1980, Jasikoff 1982, Olendorff 1993, Tigner et al 1996, Gillihan et al 2004a, 2004b. These range in scale from tools that target individual hawks to ecosystem-based management strategies.…”

Section: Tools and Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…v If land conversion to a monoculture (e.g., crested wheatgrass) is unavoidable, leave a mosaic of treated (no more than 80 percent) and untreated (at least 20 percent) areas (Howard and Wolfe 1976).…”

Section: Habitat Management Toolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nesting Behavior, Provisioning Rates, and Parental Roles of Ferruginous Hawks in New Mexico

Keeley

Bechard²

2017

Journal of Raptor Research

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Prey use and productivity of ferruginous hawks in rural and exurban New Mexico

2016

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Habitat loss from human development affects native wildlife populations, especially in the western United States where the human population is growing 2-3 times faster than any other part of the country. We analyzed regurgitated pellets, prey remains, and video to describe the diet of ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis) nesting in rural and exurban grasslands in New Mexico, USA, to better understand the conservation needs of this species. Three mammals-Botta's pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae), Gunnison's prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni), and desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)-comprised the majority of ferruginous hawk diet in percent biomass, whereas Botta's pocket gopher dominated diet in percent frequency. Hawks breeding in the exurban grassland (i.e., exurban hawks) consumed more Gunnison's prairie dogs, whereas hawks in the rural area (i.e., rural hawks) consumed more lagomorphs. From 1998-2005, and during the 2 years of our prey use study, exurban hawks delivered more biomass and prey items and experienced greater nesting success and productivity than rural hawks. The presence of prairie dogs, a colonial mammal whose occurrence theoretically reduces predatory search time, assisted in the maintenance of relatively high productivity levels for exurban hawks in our study. In 2004, the exurban grassland supported 5 times more prairie dog colonies than the rural area, but the number of exurban colonies decreased by 50% from 1999-2004. Extant prairie dog colonies and habitat supporting other medium-sized mammals (e.g., Geomyidae) should be conserved to enable maintenance of ferruginous hawk populations in the western United States, particularly in anthropogenically altered areas. Ó 2016 The Wildlife Society.

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Range Improvement Practices and Ferruginous Hawks

Cited by 26 publications

References 10 publications

Populations of ferruginous and Swainson's hawks increase in synchrony with ground squirrels

Populations of ferruginous and Swainson's hawks increase in synchrony with ground squirrels

Nesting Behavior, Provisioning Rates, and Parental Roles of Ferruginous Hawks in New Mexico

Prey use and productivity of ferruginous hawks in rural and exurban New Mexico

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