We investigated several reproductive attributes among three spatially and morphometrically separable northern populations of breeding Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii) in differing ecological settings in British Columbia, North Dakota, and Wisconsin during 1995–2001. We did not detect significant inter-year variation in reproduction within any of our study areas. Cumulative clutch and brood sizes were significantly higher in British Columbia (mean = 4.41 and 3.60, respectively) and Wisconsin (4.26 and 3.73) than in North Dakota (3.5 and 3.0), but not significantly different between British Columbia and Wisconsin. Total nest success rates (91 and 82% in British Columbia and Wisconsin, respectively) varied significantly among all three study sites, but were lowest in North Dakota (68%). We hypothesize that smaller clutch and consequentially lower brood sizes in North Dakota may be the result of the comparatively later nesting phenology in this highly migratory population. Our results underscore the significance of clutch size data, and the need for further research on regional and other large-scale variation in avian demographic parameters to help decide if, when, and where population demographics may warrant a management response.
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1 June 2007
VARIATION IN REPRODUCTIVE INDICES IN THREE POPULATIONS OF COOPER'S HAWKS
ROBERT N. ROSENFIELD,
JOHN BIELEFELDT,
LAURA J. ROSENFIELD,
ANDREW C. STEWART,
MELVIN P. NENNEMAN,
ROBERT K. MURPHY,
MICHAEL A. BOZEK
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The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
Vol. 119 • No. 2
June 2007
Vol. 119 • No. 2
June 2007