Download - Beneficial Management Practices for Saskatchewan Species at Risk: Ferruginous Hawk Threatened
Beneficial Management Practices for Saskatchewan
Species at Risk:
Ferruginous Hawk Threatened
• Large hawk with long broad wings and broad, gray, rusty or white tail
• Pale head, neck and underparts
• Rusty on the upperparts, on the underwing and legs
• In flight look for a “rusty diaper”
Randy McCulloch
• Nest in isolated trees or on rocky edges in large, open native prairie or uncultivated pastureland
• Will nest on ground if trees are scarce
• Eats mainly Richardson’s ground squirrels and other small mammals as well as voles, mice and rabbits
• Located in the southern portion of the province
• Status: Threatened
• Declined due habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, disturbance from human activities and poisoning from small mammal control
• Estimated 500 of pairs in Saskatchewan
Beneficial Management Practices
Habitat Size
• Maintain at least 640 acres (259 ha) or one section of native prairie
Grazing
• Avoid grazing on native prairie between march to late May or even July 15th if possible
• Create a variability of grass heights and litter in pastures
• Restrict grazing in woody and riparian areas by fencing off or using salt blocks and watering sites
Woody Vegetation
• Maintain woody areas including dead trees, shelterbelts and lone trees
• Replace dead trees with native species
Management of Burrowing Mammals
• Tolerate Richardson’s ground squirrels if not causing excessive damage
• If poisoning ground squirrels, delay until November through March
Human Activity
• Do not approach a nest between March 15 and July 15 within the following setback distances:
• 500m for low activity
• 750m for medium activity
• 1,000m for high activity