The Broad-winged Hawk Project: The end of the field season

   We are wrapping up our first field season with vegetation sampling at each of the nest sites. One of our goals is to understand what habitat attributes are important for Broad-winged Hawks when choosing nest sites and territories. Last week we spent Monday and Wednesday morning and afternoon at the New Ringgold and Shartlesville nests.

     For each nest site we are measuring variables such as height, species and size of nest tree, percent canopy cover, ground cover, shrub density, distance to streams and ponds, all within a plot around the nest. We are also measuring variables of five nearby random plots to compare to the nest site and help us better understand the Broadwings habitat preference. We will also assess landscape values such as forest size, forest cover, nearness to human development, etc.

   In two weeks we will continue habitat sampling at the Morgantown and Hawk Mountain nest sites.... yes, site has become plural since we just located a second nest over a half mile from the River of Rocks nest! We found the nest right as the young were in the early stages of fledging and we were only able to count two juveniles at the nest and see one of the adults. Although we missed out on observations at this nest site, we will be sure to come back next year in hopes of adding this nest to the list.

Kenny recording tree species and size while Zach measures canopy cover.

Laurie recording data while Zach walks the plot for shrub density.

We have also been getting some data from our birds with transmitters! The units turn on every two days and stay on for about 8 hours and then shut off. During that time we acquire points depending on the location of the satellites. We have included maps below of each of the four Broadwings; Abbo (New Ringgold), Kit (Shartlesville), America (River of Rocks) and Hawkeye (River of Rocks). The goal for early September is to have the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary website (www.hawkmountain.org) Broadwing page revamped and updated with all of the current maps and status of the birds during their migration.