Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 14:48:29 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: "David F. Brinker" Organization: Project Owlnet Subject: Re: Hawk Nesting Question MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Osprey Readers, The Pennsylvania atlas lists egg dates of 27 March-6 May for Northern Goshawks. This was from a sample of 9 nests. Speiser & Bosakowski [J. Raptor Res. 25(4):132-135; Nesting phenology, site fidelity, and defense behavior of Northern Goshawks in New York and New Jersey] recorded incubating females from the first week in April through the second week in May (sample of 20 nests). When I back-date from the approximate age of chicks we've banded at nest sites in WV and PA we have a similar range of egg dates, with one notable early nest in West Virginia where I estimated the first egg date as 16 March. As far as I know there is little else available on egg dates for goshawks nesting south of New York. All of the above dates compare fairly well with egg dates from an extensively studied (over 30 years) population in northern Wisconsin where I worked with goshawks before moving to Maryland. In Maryland, goshawk populations are increasing from extirpation some 75-80 years ago. All states to the north of Maryland have documented increases in goshawk populations over the past 20-30 years and dispersers from these populations are settling in West Virginia and Maryland. There is now the rare report of nesting goshawks in Garrett Co. and a very small chance that a pair may nest in some remote portion of Alleghany Co. I doubt they will ever nest east of the Catoctins. Although known for their aggressiveness, nesting goshawks can easily go unnoticed. For example, in Pennsylvania I know of one pair that nested within sight of a road in 2001, within 100 meters of the same road during 2002 and this year is within 200 meters of the same road. Judging from several old nests that we've located, this pair probably nested in the same general area for several years prior to 2001. This is in an area heavily used by recreationists and the goshawks have essentially gone undetected! There is even a picnic pavilion within 200 meters of all 3 of the recently used nests! There are now probably a couple of pairs of goshawks breeding in far western Maryland each summer. The challenge for atlasers is to dig them out of the woods! Anyone who locates an active goshawk nest should feel honored. Goshawks are listed as an endangered species in Maryland and are a species of conservation interest/concern to the Natural Heritage Program. PLEASE keep the location of sensitive species breeding locations, such as goshawk nests QUIET!! Remember, "loose lips sink ships", word of mouth can be a terrible killer to rare species. There are many possible calamities that can occur as a result of too many visitors, including the possible loss of chicks to nest robbers. That having been said, if you are fortunate enough to locate a goshawk nest within Maryland, the Natural Heritage Program would like to know of the location so that we can do our best to conserve that nesting site and the nearby habitat conditions that are needed to support nesting goshawks. There are currently only 5 known goshawk nest records for Maryland, one from 1901, one from 1980 and three others within the past 7 years. Chicks begin hatching in early May. This is when the adult's aggressiveness is most likely to be noticed. Most chicks are fledged by mid to late June and after that adults seldom pay any attention to humans near nest sites. To me they are not the "terror of the northwoods" but a great and special experience of the wonder and beauty of our forested regions. Have fun walking in the mountain forests and always watch your back, especially if you hear kak, kak, kak, kak ....! You'll never forget the experience! Best regards all, Dave Brinker. Maryland Natural Heritage Program 1200 Frederick Rd. Catonsville, MD 21228 ph. (410) 744-8939 Walter Ellison wrote: >Steve Huy wondered: > >>What about Goshawks? :-) >> > >Not in Montgomery County, and the "Yellow Book" cites no egg dates for the >terror of the Northwoods. Egg dates for Gos can be found in Pennsylvania >publications - including the PA atlas (and yes they do nest right now). > >Good Atlasing, > >Walter Ellison >MD-DC Atlas Coordinator - MOS >23460 Clarissa Road >Chestertown, MD 21620 >phone: 410-778-9568 >e-mail: rossgull@crosslink.net > >======================================================================= >To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com >with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey >======================================================================= > ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================