Conservation of the critically endangered Ridgway?s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi)

CURTI, M; HAYES, C.; HAYES, C.; THORSTROM, R.; QUIROGA, M.

Santo Domingo

Conferencia; 4th Caribaea Initiative Research & Conservation Conference; 2019

Caribaea Initiative

Ridgway?s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) is one of only three island-endemic buteos found worldwide and is the only buteo of 13 diurnal raptors listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Historically, Ridgway?s Hawk ranged throughout the island of Hispaniola and satellite islands.By 2009 the Ridgway?s Hawk population had declined to approximately 300 individuals isolated to Los Haitises National Park, a 600 km 2 ?paper-park? in Dominican Republic. Ridgway?s Hawk is threatened by habitat loss and human persecution. Recent work has determined that parasitic nest flies (Philornis spp.) are a significant cause of hawk nestling mortality and a likely additional factor in the decline of the species. In 2011 we began treating hawk nests and nestlings to increase pair productivity. With our treatment, the number of young produced per pair has greatly increased, which has reversed the population?s declining trend. Improved productivity has enabled us to translocate about 25 young hawks per year, creating a second population in the Punta Cana region of the Dominican Republic. Since 2009, The Peregrine Fund has reintroduced 120 Ridgway?s Hawks and at least 30 young have fledged in the wild in the Punta Cana region. Currently, the new population consists of about 18 pairs. This year we are initiating reintroductions of young Ridgway?s Hawks in Aniana Vargas National Park, where we expect to create a third population over the next several years.