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Distribution, density, and productivity of accipiter hawks breeding in Oregon

Formally Refereed

Abstract

Density of nests and productivity of Sharp-shinned Hawks (Accipiter striatus), Cooper's Hawks (A. cooperii), and Goshawks (A. gentilis) within Oregon are of interest because of recent declines of accipiter hawks in the eastern United States (Schriver 1969, Hackman and Henny 1971, Henny and Wight 1972). One factor implicated in this decline was contamination with chlorinated hydrocarbons (Ratcliffe 1970, Cade et al. 1971, Anderson and Hickey 1972, Wiemeyer and Porter 1970). Snyder et al. (1973) presented data on levels of DDE in eggs of accipiter hawks from various regions in North America, including Oregon. Their data indicated that eggs of each species are contaminated, but they were unable to evaluate the effects of contamination on populations in Oregon as historical data on the abundance of breeding accipiters did not exist.

Keywords

accipiter hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter striatus, Cooper's Hawk, Accipiter cooperii, Goshawks, Accipiter gentilis

Citation

Reynolds, Richard T.; Wight, Howard M. 1978. Distribution, density, and productivity of accipiter hawks breeding in Oregon. Wilson Bulletin. 90(2): 182-196.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/32025