Protecting nest sites from human disturbance facilitates successful reproduction of urban-dwelling Northern Goshawks

Abstract

With human population growth occurring in urban areas, there is a concern that human-induced disturbances have adverse effects on urban-dwelling raptors. Here, we surveyed the rate of successful reproduction of urban-dwelling Northern Goshawks Accipiter gentilis in Tokyo, Japan for two years and compared the rate between occupied nests inside and outside protected areas. Occupied nests inside protected areas were almost three times more successful than those outside protected areas (63.6% vs. 21.4%), indicating that urban-dwelling goshawks are not always tolerant of anthropogenic disturbance. Therefore, it is important to limit human activity near their nest sites.