In Canada, the Red-shouldered Hawk population is best monitored by the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). BBS results suggest an approximately 88% increase in numbers since 1970, which represents a moderate increase. However, this assessment is considered to be of medium reliability because of the moderate precision of the BBS trend estimate. Within the Bird Conservation Regions (BCR) that host the species and for which there are reasonably reliable results (displayed below), trends vary from relatively stable in the Lower Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Plain BCR to increases elsewhere. BBS results from throughout North America suggest a large increase in the continental population. Because the Red-shouldered Hawk was persecuted and possibly affected by DDT (Farmer et al. 2008), resulting in low levels of abundance at the start of monitoring efforts, and its historical abundance remains unknown, a specific management goal relative to 1970 has not yet been set. However, with an increasing population trend, the Red-shouldered Hawk’s current population is at an acceptable level (see BBS Canada graph below).
Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis
Additional information on: Christmas Bird Count (CBC)
