Continuing studies of raptors in two national parks in western Texas, 1976
Johnson BS. 1976. Continuing studies of raptors in two national parks in western Texas, 1976. Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute Contribution
In spring 1976, the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute conducted breeding surveys and continued population studies of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) and zone-tailed hawks (Buteo albonotatus) in the Big Bend National Park and the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas. Other raptor species were observed and, where possible, their nesting sites were located. Five peregrine pairs in the national parks produced a total of nine young (a mean number of 3.0 young per eyrie--two were unsuccessful). Peregrines returned to the vicinity of a historic eyrie site, where peregrines were last seen in 1967, and a Rio Grande canyon eyrie produced young for the first time in recent years. Prairie falcons were strangely absent from the national parks in 1976, but eleven other raptor species did nest there. National park lands in Texas are especially important to peregrine falcons; 83 percent of our 1976 sample of peregrine pairs nesting in western Texas did so within park boundaries.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Johnson, Brenda
- Date of Issue
- 1976
- Units
- BIBE
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Breeding, Nests & Nesting, Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) - Falconidae, Raptors, zone-tailed hawk (Buteo albonotatus) - Accipitridae