Relationships between Jackrabbit Abundance and Ferruginous Hawk Reproduction

Smith, Dwight G.; Murphy, Joseph R.; Woffinden, Neil D.

doi:10.2307/1367602

Cited by 51 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…2). These increases were unexpected because in comparison with other areas, the Hanna study area, even before 1986, harbored one of the densest nesting populations of ferruginous hawks (0.3 -6.3 pairs/ 100 km2, Olendorff 1973; Lokemoen and Duebbert 1976;Smith et al 1981;Blair and Schitoskey 1982;Gilmer and Stewart 1983) and Swainson's hawks (2.2 -16.1 pairs/ 100 km2, Olendorff 1973;Dunkle 1977;Craighead and Mindell 1981;Gilmer and Stewart 1984). Nest availability was sufficiently good on our study area to permit this increase in breeding density, but nest availability did not itself cause this increase in 1986.…”

Section: Densities Of Breeding Hawksmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…In some longterm studies of breeding raptors, densities did not reflect changes in prey densities (e.g., Southern 1970), whereas in other studies raptor densities fluctuated in synchrony with those of their prey (e.g., Pitelka et al 1975;Newton 1979;Smith et al 1981;Korpimaki 1984Korpimaki , 1986Hamerstrom 1986;Hornfeldt et al 1986;Ridpath and Brooker 1986;Wiklund and Stigh 1986). In addition to synchronous fluctuations in the abundance of raptors and their prey, many raptors have also shown increased reproductive success when prey abundance was increased.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…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). Swainson's hawks use a wider variety of prey than ferruginous hawks do, including rabbits, rodents, birds, and insects (White 1966;Olendorff 1973;Gilmer and Stewart 1984;Johnson et al 1987;Bednarz 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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: Densities Of Breeding Hawksmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

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

Schmutz¹,

Hungle²

1989

Can. J. Zool.

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“…Average annual clutch sizes varying from 2.1 to 3.8 eggs have been reported in various years during fluctuations in jackrabbit populations, and this factor also affected a variety of other aspects and measures of reproductive success in this species (Smith andMurphy, 1978, 1979;Smith, Murphy, and Woffinden, 1981).…”

Section: Breeding Biologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous estimates of productivity in ferruginous hawks are available, which are notable for their high degree of temporal and geographic variability Lokemoen and Duebbert, 1976;Smith, Murphy, and Woffinden, 1981). One of the longest records of reproductive success is the study of Smith, Murphy, and Woffinden, covering seven years, during which the total breeding population, number of nesting pairs, total eggs laid, and total young fledged all varied in synchrony with jackrabbit abundance.…”

Section: Breeding Biologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Hawks, eagles, & falcons of North America: biology and natural history

1991

Choice Reviews Online

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Human‐made structures, vegetation, and weather influence ferruginous hawk breeding performance

et al. 2015

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Studies of anthropogenic impacts on wildlife may produce inconclusive or biased results if they fail to account for natural sources of variation in breeding performance and do not use probabilistic sampling at a scale functional for management. We used stratified random sampling and generalized linear mixed models to test hypotheses on relationships of daily nest survival rate (DSR) and fledgling production with anthropogenic and environmental factors that influence reproduction in the ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis). We conducted the study across ferruginous hawk range in Wyoming, USA, 2010-2012. We performed extensive field surveys of prey, vegetation, and nest substrates, and used spatially explicit data to quantify weather, and the most widespread forms of anthropogenic infrastructure (i.e., roads, oil and gas well pads) in ferruginous hawk territories. We found strong evidence that DSR and productivity were greater for nests on anthropogenic structures (i.e., artificial nest platforms, gas condensation tanks, abandoned windmill platforms, power poles) compared to natural substrates (i.e., trees, cliffs, rock outcrops). Additionally, ferruginous hawks produced more fledglings at territories with greater shrub cover and fewer severe storms during the June brood-rearing period. Amount of oil and gas development and prey was not associated with either measure of breeding performance. Our results suggest that artificial nest platforms are an effective tool to improve breeding success of ferruginous hawks and nesting on anthropogenic structures does not constitute an ecological trap for this species. Although ferruginous hawks nested in some areas with very little vegetative cover, territories with greater amounts of shrub cover produced more fledglings. The negative impact of severe spring storms on fledgling production illustrates the importance of including future weather scenarios in management planning for this species because storms are predicted to increase in frequency and intensity as a result of climate change. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

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Relationships between Jackrabbit Abundance and Ferruginous Hawk Reproduction

Cited by 51 publications

References 9 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

Hawks, eagles, & falcons of North America: biology and natural history

Human‐made structures, vegetation, and weather influence ferruginous hawk breeding performance

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