ABSTRACT The Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus) is Australia's rarest and most threatened raptor, having disappeared from approximately two‐thirds of its breeding range and now persists across northern Australian tropical savannas. Despite this decline, its spatial requirements and habitat selections remain poorly understood within this environment, particularly in relation to anthropogenic disturbance. We conducted a long‐term movement study across northern Australia (2015–2022), tagging adults and juveniles (n = 23 individuals; 67,142 locations). Home range size and habitat selection were analysed for 13 range‐resident individuals using weighted autocorrelated kernel density estimators (wAKDE) and Resource Selection Functions (RSFs). Environmental covariates included both static (e.g., elevation, distance to water) and annually changing variables (e.g., habitat clearing, fire regime). Red Goshawks occupied extensive overall home ranges (mean 95% wAKDE = 601 ± 454 km2), with non‐breeders requiring substantially larger areas (1229 ± 496 km2) than breeders (412 ± 221 km2). Breeding adults relied on well‐defined core areas around nest sites (mean 50% wAKDE = 44.5 ± 27.1 km2). Habitat selection varied by breeding habitat: woodland breeders strongly select Eucalyptus tetrodonta woodlands relatively further from water, whereas riparian breeders avoid these woodlands, selecting long‐unburnt vegetation closer to water; although riparian sample sizes were limited. On Cape York Peninsula, individuals tracked during active clearing of woodlands for mining largely avoided cleared and restored areas. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the extensive spatial requirements of Red Goshawks and provide preliminary evidence of ecological niche differentiation between breeding habitat types within tropical savannas, although further data are needed to fully resolve this. Avoidance of cleared and restored areas indicates limited short‐term value of habitat restoration and provides a plausible mechanism linking habitat loss to the species' historical decline across its south‐eastern range. Intact woodlands and riparian gallery forests emerge as key habitats supporting extant breeding populations.

The Letter-winged Kite (Elanus scriptus), a raptor endemic to the arid interior of Australia, is the only nocturnal member of the Accipitridae family and remains one of the country's least studied birds. Currently listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN RedList but Least Concern in Australian federal legislation, its population status and distribution are poorly understood, with anecdotal evidence indicating an ongoing decline. However, no comprehensive, range-wide assessment of population trends has been conducted, creating a significant knowledge shortfall that may hinder timely conservation action. In this study, we leveraged citizen science datasets on Australian birds to compile what is, to our knowledge, the first comprehensive occurrence database for the Letter-winged Kite. We integrated historical and contemporary records with current ecological understanding to establish a baseline assessment of the species' population trends and distribution. Utilising three potential hypotheses around decline, our analysis suggests that, while the species remains relatively stable within its core range, irruptive events into peripheral areas are occurring with decreasing frequency, scale and abundance. We argue that the Letter-winged Kite exemplifies the need for a more precautionary approach to species' conservation listings. Despite data deficiencies, existing evidence supports elevating the species' conservation status to Vulnerable based on its small, contiguous population and consistent signs of decline suggestive of an ongoing range contraction. We believe this designation is both warranted and necessary to ensure appropriate conservation attention is directed towards the species, until such time that more robust data can confirm or refute the extent of its decline.

ABSTRACT The Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus) is one of Australia’s least encountered birds, is poorly known, and under serious threat following its recent extinction in one-third of its historical breeding range, and population decline in another one-third of that range. The species is now confined to the tropical savannas of northern Australia as a breeding resident yet our understanding of its diet and trophic niche within these environments is limited. Using a comprehensive dataset of prey records, we found that Red Goshawks are specialized avian predators targeting specific prey such as Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Red-collared Lorikeet (Trichoglossus rubritorquis), Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii), and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita). These bird-eating habits likely require extensive home ranges and may explain why the species exhibits extreme levels of reverse sexual size dimorphism. We found that females hunted larger prey than males, and that the size of prey increased throughout the breeding season likely due to the female hunting later in the breeding season. The size and composition of prey appeared to be influenced by breeding habitat, with riparian areas apparently supporting higher prey diversity and larger prey size including waterbirds. Prey selection by Red Goshawks appeared specialized and not proportional to the relative availability of birds within the environment. Fledgling sex did not determine the size of prey delivered to nests despite the significant size discrepancy between male and female young. We also found that the prey species that Red Goshawks most depend upon appeared to remain abundant in the Red Goshawks’ former range areas. Consequently, the loss of prey populations did not appear to account for the species’ significant recent decline, although habitat loss and change may inhibit its capacity to hunt these prey items.

We report the first detection and prevalence of Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) in Australia’s Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus). This is a new host for this pervasive pathogen amongst a growing list of non-psittacine species including birds of prey from the orders Accipitriformes (hawks, eagles, kites), Falconiformes (falcons and caracas), and Strigiformes (owls). The Red Goshawk is the first non-psittacine species listed as Endangered to be diagnosed with BFDV. We report an initial case of infection discovered post-mortem in a dead nestling and subsequent surveillance of birds from across northern Australia. We reveal BFDV prevalence rates in a wild raptor population for the first time, with detections in 25% (n = 7/28) of Red Goshawks sampled. Prevalence appears higher in juveniles compared to adults, although not statistically significant, but is consistent with studies of wild psittacines. BFDV genotypes were associated with the Loriinae (lorikeets, budgerigar, and fig parrots), Cacatuini (Cockatoos), and Polytelini (long-tailed parrots) tribes; species which are preyed upon by Red Goshawks. A positive BFDV status may be associated with lower body mass but small sample sizes precluded robust statistical analysis. We postulate the possible impacts of the virus on Red Goshawks and discuss future research priorities given these preliminary observations.

Australia’s Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus) is a taxonomically distinct raptor endemic to the tropics and sub-tropics of eastern and northern Australia, and the Australian mainland’s rarest bird of prey. Classified as Vulnerable when legislation was first enacted in 1992, the species’ status and distribution remain unclear, and it is possibly declining based on limited surveys. However, no comprehensive analysis of its range-wide population trends has ever been undertaken, creating a knowledge gap which potentially delays urgent conservation management. Here, we bridge that knowledge gap. We compile a comprehensive dataset of 1,679 occurrence records spanning the species’ historical range, develop a novel method that overcomes reporting biases centred around nest locations, then identify population trends between 1978 and 2020 at national, state, and regional scales. Our results suggest that the species has declined significantly across eastern Australia and is likely locally extinct in many regions. We estimate the Red Goshawk has disappeared from 34% of its breeding range over the last four decades, and probably persists at extremely low density, if at all, over an additional 29.7% of its breeding range. These results demonstrate the species’ declining population trajectory at multiple scales for the first time and provide further evidence for its up listing under Australian federal legislation to Endangered, using IUCN Red List criterion C2a(ii): small population size and decline. We recommend population surveys and monitoring coupled with targeted research to better understand population trajectories and determine which threats are driving this unique species’ decline.

Habitat loss is driving the extirpation of fauna across Earth. Many species are now absent from vast areas where they once occurred in inhabited continents, yet we do not have a good understanding of the extent to which different species have been locally extirpated, nor the degree to which range contractions and habitat loss has contributed to this local extirpation. Here, for the first time, we use a combination of scientific literature, historical sources, spatial data, and expert elicitation to map the past extent of potential habitats, and changes thereto, of 72 of Australia’s most imperiled terrestrial birds. By comparing the area of potential habitat within the past and current ranges of these taxa, we quantify the extent over which each of Australia’s threatened terrestrial birds have likely been extirpated and assess the amount and configuration of potential habitat that remains. Our results show that since 1750 (before European colonization), at least one extant taxon of threatened bird has disappeared from over 530 million hectares (69%) of Australia, through both range contractions and loss of potentially suitable habitat (noting these are not mutually exclusive phenomena). Ten taxa (14%) have likely been extirpated from >99% of their past potential habitat. For 56 taxa (78%), remaining habitat within their current potential habitats has become fragmented. This research paints a sobering picture of the extent of local extirpation of threatened birds from much of Australia over a 250 years time period. By mapping and quantifying this loss, these findings will help refine scientific understanding about the impact of habitat removal and other pervasive threats that are driving this observed extirpation.

Identify the eagles, hawks, kites and falcons flying high above you with this photographic guide. Birds of prey spend most of their time in flight and, when viewed from the ground, they are notoriously hard to identify. Australian Birds of Prey in Flight is a photographic guide to the eagles, hawks, kites and falcons flying high above you. Individual species profiles describe distinguishing features and the text is supported by detailed images showing the birds at six different angles and poses, using photographs from many of Australia’s leading bird photographers. Annotated multi-species comparison plates highlight key features that can help differentiate birds of prey in flight. This book will be of value to anyone who wants to learn more about Australia’s birds of prey, and will provide a useful reference for identifying soaring birds in the field, and also while trying to identify images from your own camera.

Deforestation and conversion to intensive agriculture historically caused a large reduction in abundance of the New Zealand falcon, resulting in its current classification as At Risk. Many New Zealand falcons occur in managed plantation forests, but little is known about their winter use of the mosaic of different aged stands present in these forests. We radio tracked adult falcons (n = 36) during three winters (2012-2014) in Kaingaroa Forest, an intensively managed pine plantation located in the Central Plateau of the North Island of New Zealand. We used tracking data to establish the extent and habitat composition of winter home ranges, and transect surveys to assess the availability of potential prey (passerine birds). We also investigated whether falcon habitat use was related to weather. Open fields created by clearcutting were the primary hunting ground of falcons. Falcons occupied young pine stands (30.4%) and the ecotone between young and mature pine stands (31.2%) most frequently despite its limited availability (20.1% and 3.7%, respectively). Total prey abundance was similar across all habitats and sizes of open fields, but the species composition of potential prey differed significantly between habitats. Thus, the dynamic changes to forest structure created by clearcutting and its effects on prey accessibility are the most important factors influencing falcon space use. We observed that falcons used the mature portion of the forest edge area as a vantage point for hunting or for territorial defence and as a shelter from heavy rain, and interiors of mature tree stands as a shelter from strong winds. Females had a larger home range size (95% KDE, 32 km(2)) than males (15 km(2)). The availability of mature/young edge within a home range may be the key factor determining home rangesize during winter. Maintaining the availability of ecotones of young stands adjacent to mature trees in plantation forests can assist in supporting falcon populations in this novel habitat and hence the conservation of this endemic raptor.

Abstract The New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) is a threatened endemic species whose numbers have been reduced by habitat loss and the introduction of exotic predators. The species has recently been discovered breeding in exotic plantation forests. Understanding how New Zealand Falcons use plantation forests is critical to its effective management in this habitat. To determine patterns of habitat selection and inform habitat management, we studied the home-range size and habitat use of 13 adult New Zealand Falcons in Kaingaroa pine plantation. This plantation comprises 180,000 ha of nonnative pine trees that are planted and harvested in discrete ‘stands’ that create a mosaic of pine stand ages across the landscape. We radio-tracked eight males and five females for 12 wk during the 2004 and 2005 breeding seasons. Mean home-range sizes were 9.2 ± 4.2 km2 for males and 6.2 ± 3.2 km2 for females (mean ± SD). To investigate habitat use, pine stands were categorized by tree age and further classified into stand edge and stand interior. Both sexes strongly favored the edges between pine stands where stands less than 4 yr old bordered those greater than 19 yr old. Females also preferentially used the interior of pine stands less than 4 yr old, whereas males were more often found along the edges of these young stands. We conclude that if forestry managers wish to enhance the suitability of their estates for the New Zealand Falcon, they should provide a mosaic of different aged stands, while ensuring that stands less than 4 yr old bordering stands greater than 19 yr old are consistently available. RANGO DE HOGAR Y USO DE HÁBITAT DE FALCO NOVAESEELANDIAE EN UNA PLANTACIÓN FORESTAL EXÓTICA DURANTE LA ESTACIÓN REPRODUCTIVA Falco novaeseelandiae es una especie endémica amenazada cuyos números poblacionales se han visto reducidos por la pérdida de hábitat y la introducción de depredadores exóticos. Recientemente se ha descubierto a la especie reproduciéndose en plantaciones forestales exóticas. Entender cómo F. novaeseelandiae utiliza los bosques implantados es crítico para su manejo efectivo en este tipo de hábitat. Para determinar los patrones de selección de hábitat y conducir el manejo de hábitat, estudiamos el tamaño del rango de hogar y el uso de hábitat de 13 individuos adultos de F. novaeseelandiae en la plantación de pinos de Kaingaroa. Esta plantación comprende 180,000 ha de pinos exóticos implantados y que son explotados en rodales discretos que crean un mosaico de rodales de pinos de distinta edad a través del paisaje. Localizamos con radio transmisores ocho machos y cinco hembras durante 12 semanas en las épocas reproductivas de 2004 y 2005. Los tamaños medios de rango de hogar fueron de 9.2 ± 4.2 km2 para los machos y de 6.2 ± 3.2 km2 para las hembras (media ± DE). Para investigar el uso de hábitat, los rodales de pino fueron categorizados por edad de árbol y clasificados en borde de rodal e interior de rodal. Ambos sexos mostraron una marcada preferencia por los bordes entre rodales de pino, donde los rodales de menos de cuatro años de edad bordearon aquellos de más de 19 años de edad. Las hembras también utilizaron preferentemente el interior de los rodales de pino de menos de cuatro años de edad, mientras que los machos fueron encontrados más a menudo a lo largo de los bordes de estos rodales jóvenes. Concluimos que si los encargados de la forestación desean mejorar la aptitud de sus plantaciones para F. novaeseelandiae, deberían mantener un mosaico de rodales de edades diferentes, asegurando que los rodales de menos de cuatro años de edad estén bordeando los rodales de más de 19 años de edad.

The use of mobile technologies including mobile phones, iPods and PDAs to deliver learning objects to support students who are involved in distance learning programmes is causing much interest with the UK Open University (OU). This paper introduces and reports on the development of an application to assist students on the Cisco Networking course to practice subnetting, a particular feature of the addressing used to identify all devices on the internet and the majority of todaypsilas computer networks. The ability of students to manipulate such addresses is beneficial both to their studies and their practice. A discussion of why such an application was developed specifically for mobile phones will be given. This will be followed by a description of its development, including the rationale for including the various stages of practice. The paper concludes with a report on progress to date and initial feedback from current students who have had the opportunity to work with the application. The project has been sponsored by the Centre for Open Learning in Mathematics, Science, Computing and Technology (COLMSCT) which is one of four government funded Centres of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs) within the OU.

The abundance of bird species in a commercial radiata pine plantation in New Zealand was studied to determine how different aged tree compartments affect birds. We found that exotic bird species were found in greater numbers than indigenous species in young and intermediate aged pine stands, but both were recorded in similar abundances in mature stands. Stand edges had higher overall densities of birds than the interiors of stands. Eight of the 31 bird species observed made up 89 % of birds recorded. We found that the application of poison bait (1080) for pest control had no significant effect on bird density overall. The density of exotic bird species, however, was greatest where bait was applied from the ground over a small, localised area. Moreover, some individual indigenous species were recorded in their highest numbers in areas where bait had been aerially broadcast over a large area. Higher densities of birds were recorded at the start and end of the breeding season. Our results indicate that in commercial pine forests, maximum avian diversity and density will result from a mosaic of pine stand ages with high local heterogeneity. Within this mosaic, stand edges and pine stands over 20 years old are particularly important. If conservation of indigenous bird species is the management aim, then older stands must be well represented throughout, and broadcast application of pest control over a wide area may be beneficial.

The contribution of exotic plantation forests to the conservation of New Zealand's flora and fauna is a somewhat controversial issue, partly because the establishment of some plantations involved the conversion of indigenous vegetation. Such conversion no longer occurs within the professional forest industry and there is a growing appreciation of the contribution of 'production' land, including plantation forests, to the protection of New Zealand's unique indigenous biodiversity. This paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of information currently available on threatened species known to occur in New Zealand's plantation forests. Based on an evaluation of the published literature, unpublished reports, national threatened species databases, and personal observations we have compiled records of 118 species classified by the Department of Conservation as threatened that occur in plantations. Of these species, 16 are classified as 'Nationally Critical', 17 'Nationally Endangered' and 17 'Nationally Vulnerable', while the majority are classified as either in 'Gradual Decline', 'Sparse' or 'Range Restricted'. We highlight the direct and indirect benefits of plantations to various threatened taxa and draw attention to the missed conservation opportunities that are generated by a lack of understanding and the somewhat 'puritanical' views of New Zealand's mainstream conservation paradigm. We also discuss some of the potential negative consequences of plantations such as their potential function as 'population sinks' and 'ecological traps'. We conclude with a discussion of future research opportunities that aim to improve the conservation value of plantation forests.

This study investigates the factors that determine nest-site selection by New Zealand Falcons (Falco novaeseelandiae) in a plantation pine forest. Selection was examined by measuring habitat and forestry management variables at actual nesting sites and randomly selected sites in the forest. Nesting sites were located on the ground in pine stands up to 5 years old, with unplanted and 1-year-old stands of pine selected preferentially for nesting. Overall, 54% of pairs nested in the same stand of pines in a subsequent year, whereas 44% moved to a stand of the same age or younger and 2% moved to older stands. Falcons chose nesting sites close to older pine trees and with cover over the scrape. New Zealand Falcons benefit from clear-fell harvesting that creates a mosaic of stand ages across a plantation. This mosaic provides both suitable nesting sites and an abundance of prey. This threatened species benefits from felling plantation forests in fairly small, discrete stands.

We studied the diet of the ednemic New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) in a pine plantation forest by identifying species occurring in pellets and prey remains collected from 37 nest sites during the 2003 and 2004 breeding seasons. We assessed bird species abundance along transects in different-aged pine stands and along stand edges. Diet and prey abundance were compared to determine whether birds were taken disproportionately or in proportion to their abundance in the environment. Birds composed the greatest proportion of die diet, 84% by frequency and 74% by biomass. Common Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) were taken most frequency. bill Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula) and European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Contributed more by biomass. although rabbits were not recorded at every nest site. Bird density increased significantly with stand age bill was highest along stand edges. Chaffinches were the most abundant species and taken ill proportion to their availability. Species that occurred ill open habitat (e.g., Yellowhammers [Emberiza citrinella]) or were of medium size (e.g., blackbirds) were taken more than expected based on their availability. Very small species (e.g., Grey Gerygone [Gerygone igata]) were taken ill lower proportions than expected from their abundance. Proportions of bird species preyed upon were corrrelated most closely with bird species abundance in young pine stands (p = 0.02, r(2) = 0.52). In a pine plantation habitat, New Zealand Falcons took primarily the more abundant species, those intermediate in size (16-160 g), and those frequenting open habitat.

Productivity data on the New Zealand falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) were collected from 87 nest sites in Kaingaroa pine plantation during three breeding seasons, 2003 to 2006. On average, 1.81 chicks were successfully fledged per nest, with young reared successfully at 71% of nests. Breeding occurred between August and March, with most eggs laid before December and most chicks fledged by February. Fifteen percent of nests were depredated, 9% contained eggs that failed to develop and 4% failed owing to forestry operations disturbing or destroying nests. No negative impact of 1080 bait or of desiccant or release spray application was recorded on falcon productivity. The population of falcons in Kaingaroa Forest increased during a period of pest control using 1080 bait so we see no reason to discontinue its use. Although impacts from forestry operations were low and restricted to land preparation and harvesting operations, there is potential for adverse impacts to increase. Mechanical forestry operations can continue without negative impacts by avoiding a buffer zone of 100-200 m around an active falcon nest.

Natal dispersal of the New Zealand falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) was documented using relocations of radio-tagged and colour banded falcons in Kaingaroa pine plantation. The age at which fledglings commenced natal dispersal was highly variable. The earliest fledglings dispersed 42 days after fledging, whilst others did not disperse out of their natal territories, remaining there to breed. After 91 days, 87% of fledglings had begun dispersal out of their natal territory. The mean time for the onset of dispersal was 76 days. Males generally dispersed earlier than females, but no significant difference was recorded. Both radio telemetry and colour band recoveries indicated that a large proportion of fledglings dispersed out of the study area. Mean natal dispersal distance within Kaingaroa Forest was 9.6 km. No significant difference was observed in natal dispersal distances between the sexes, although males generally roamed further afield than females. During this study, several females were recorded successfully breeding during their 1st year, a year earlier than usual. Males did not attempt to breed until they were 2 years old. We conclude that the high emigration rates and favourable breeding conditions in pine plantations make these habitats highly likely to act as source populations for neighbouring areas where populations of the New Zealand falcon may be in decline.