Nest Site Selection by Northern Goshawks in Northern New Jersey and Southeastern New York

Abstract

Vegetational and topographical factors of22 nest sites of the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) were compared to random forest plots. Goshawks selected sites with greater basal area, fewer saplings, and significantly greater numbers of trees 20 to 40 cm in diameter. The relative dominance and relative density of oak (Quercus spp.) was significantly less at nest sites whereas that of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) was significantly greater. Goshawks did not use southern slopes for nesting and nests were often found at higher elevations than random sites. Nest sites were significantly further from human habitation, but were significantly closer to swamps and woods roads (or discernable trails) than random sites. Despite the significant preference for conifers in the nest sites, deciduous hardwoods were more often used as nest trees (82%) with American beech (Fagus grandifolia) and black birch (Betula lenta) being used more than expected.