Aspects of breeding ecology of the Brown Goshawk ('Accipiter fasciatus') in an urban environment in northern Australia

Abstract

The breeding parameters of the Brown Goshawk ('Accipiter fasciatus') have yet to be documented in an urban environment in Australia. Twenty-six active nests were located in urban Darwin during the 2013-2014 breeding season. Incubation occurred from August to November over a 12 week laying period. Twenty-two nests were in introduced African Mahogany trees ('Khaya senegalensis') and four were in River Red Gums ('Eucalyptus camaldulensis'). One or more young matured to fledgling stage or later at 17 of the 26 nests, with an average fledging rate of 1.13 young per nest. Assuming that all active nests were detected, the breeding density of Brown Goshawks across the study area is 52 nests per 100 km2, which is higher than that recorded in previous studies on the species.