Artificial nest structures and grassland raptors

Published source details Howard R.P. & Hilliard M. (1980) Artificial nest structures and grassland raptors. Raptor Research, 14, 41-45.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Provide artificial nesting sites for raptors Action Link
	Provide artificial nesting sites for songbirds Action Link

Provide artificial nesting sites for raptors

A small study in 1976-9 in three scrub and grassland habitats in Idaho, USA (Howard & Hilliard 1980), found that ferruginous hawks Buteo regalis nested on 24 nesting platforms provided in 1976, with one attempt in 1977 and three attempts in both 1978 and 1979. An average of 1.7 chicks/nest fledged. Platforms were provided in shaded/un-shaded pairs, and hawks only used unshaded platforms, with one pair moving platforms when the shade was moved to the platform they had used. This study also discusses platform use by common ravens Corvus corax, discussed in ‘Provide artificial nest sites for songbirds’.
Provide artificial nesting sites for songbirds

A small study in 1976-9 in three scrub and grassland habitats in Idaho, USA (Howard & Hilliard 1980), found that common ravens Corvus corax nested on nesting platforms provided, with four pairs using them in 1976, but only a single attempt in 1979. An average of 2.8 chicks/nest were produced. Twenty four platforms were provided in shaded/un-shaded pairs, with 23 out of 29 young fledged from shaded platforms. This study also discusses platform use by ferruginous hawks Buteo regalis, discussed in ‘Provide artificial nest sites for raptors’.