Habitat Loss and its Behavioral Effects on a Female Gray Hawk in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, USA

Authors

• Michael T. Stewart, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-KingsvilleFollow
• Ashley M. Tanner, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
• Brian A. Millsap, New Mexico State University
• William S. Clark, Harlingen, Texas, USA

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Abstract

Habitat loss is a major threat to wildlife worldwide. While habitat loss is commonly associated with the fragmentation, degradation, or destruction of large tracts of suitable space, habitat loss in urban environments can be much more incremental and nuanced. We tracked an adult female gray hawk (Buteo plagiatus) in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, USA, before and after 70% of the trees (7.6 ha) were cleared from the core of the nesting territory. While the hawk’s overall activity budget between within-patch and exploratory movements was unchanged, the hawk undertook substantially longer exploratory movements after the trees were clearcut. These longer movements likely resulted in higher energetic costs and exposure to additional anthropogenic threats, such as collision risks associated with roads. Road exposure within the area traveled increased from 7 km to 547 km following the clearcut. Our study underscores the behavioral impacts of habitat loss on a highly mobile predator, highlighting the importance of preserving natural areas and integrating wildlife-friendly features into urban green spaces.

Recommended Citation

Stewart, Michael T.; Tanner, Ashley M.; Millsap, Brian A.; and Clark, William S. (2025) "Habitat Loss and its Behavioral Effects on a Female Gray Hawk in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, USA," Human–Wildlife Interactions: Vol. 19: Iss. 1, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26077/jhbn-0v18
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol19/iss1/6