Response of nesting northern goshawks to logging truck noise: Kaibab National Forest, Arizona

Abstract

The northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is a pandemic species found across North America and Eurasia. The Kaibab Plateau on the Kaibab National Forest in northern Arizona supports one of the most concentrated populations of goshawks known in North America, averaging 43 active breeding areas per year until a 2001 drought reduced the subsequent number of nesting pairs (Reich et al. 2004, Reynolds et al. 2004). Goshawks occupy nearly every forest and woodland habitat type that occurs within this forest raptor's geographic range (Reynolds et al. 1982, Younk and Bechard 1994, Siders and Kennedy 1996, Squires and Ruggiero 1996). Goshawks are territorial and will actively defend their nest area, not only against their own species but other raptors as well (Speiser and Bosakowski 1991). Attila the Hun wore an image of a northern goshawk on his helmet to scare his enemies. This reflects the goshawk's habit of also commonly attacking people and other animals that approach their nests too closely (Squires and Reynolds 1997).

Citation

Grubb, Teryl G.; Gatto, Angela E.; Pater, Larry L.; Delaney, David K. 2012. Response of nesting northern goshawks to logging truck noise: Kaibab National Forest, Arizona. Final Report to Southwest Region (R-3), U.S. Forest Service. Flagstaff, AZ: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 31 p.