21 Years and Still Endangered...Hawk-ward

Emily Barlog

About:

Buteo platypterus brunnescens, also known as the Puerto Rican Broad-Winged Hawk, is a raptor endemic to the islands of Puerto Rico and has been listed as endangered since 1994. While knowledge in regards to the biology of this bird is fairly limited, it is known that the Broad-Winged Hawk is a small sized raptor at about 15.5 inches. Females tend to be slightly larger in size than the males, but both have similar color ranges as seen in the photo above. Unlike other raptors that prey in the air and on the ground, the Puerto Rican Hawk tends to hunt primarily from the canopies, watching for prey in the understory of the forests. They tend to kill small mammals and reptiles and even insects such as centipedes. A pair of hawks, after having engaged in courtship, can produce anywhere from 2-4 eggs, which they care for jointly. Due to recent decline however, hawks only produce an average of 1.1 offspring.

The female adult hawk keeps watch over its (1.1) chick at the nest

According to the Puerto Rican Broad-Winged Hawk and Puerto Rican Sharp-Shinned Hawk Recovery Plan( here out known as ‘Recovery Plan’), current populations of this species occurs in elfin woodland, sierra palm, caimitillo-granadillo, and tabonuco forest types of the Río Abajo Commonwealth Forest, Carite Commonwealth Forest, and El Yunque National Forest as well as within hardwood plantations, shade coffee plantations, and mature secondary forests.

Geography and Population:

The Recover Plan states that when the Hawk was first discovered in 1878, it was reported as being a common species with in the interior of the Puerto Rican forests. However, just a few years later in 1883 the bird was reported as being transient. Eventually in 1927, the Broad-Winged Hawk was believed to be extinct until there were sightings again 9 years later in 1936. Currently according to the Recovery Plan update, The Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk population is estimated at about 125 individuals island-wide. 

Click here for a map of the habitat of the Peurto Rican Hawk.

Reason for Listing:

-Habitat Destruction resulting in fragmentation of predominately patchy habitat for agriculture, lumber harvest and roadway construction.

-Natural Disasters especially hurricanes can wipe out mature forests which are essential to the nesting habits of these hawks.

-Illegal shooting is a potential reason, however no such activity has been reported.

Goals:

-Down list from Endangered to Threatened

-Eventually delist the Puerto Rican Broad-Winged Hawk

Recovery Plan:

1.    Monitor the Puerto Rican Broad-Winged Hawk by conducting surveys to determine population trends with a 2-year census. Get a better sense of current habitat conditions and identify additional habitat opportunities. Within theses opportunity sites, look for new populations. Overall, identify mortality factors and threats, evaluate the effects of the red tailed hawk on the populations

2.    Protect the populations through management plans and enforcing the Commonwealth and Federal endangered species regulations. Also protecting habitats on privately owned land.

3.   Educate the public on the protection and conservation of the species, helping individuals to become aware of the laws that exist to protect these species.

4.    Refine recovery goals as more information is discovered.

Sources:

http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/970908.pdf

http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc3575.pdf

http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=B06Y

Images:

http://www.taenos.com/img/ITIS/Buteo-platypterus-brunnescens/Buteo-platypterus brunnescens-10.jpg

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rican_broad-winged_hawk