The Red-shouldered Hawk is fairly rare in southern Ontario, because they require fairly large expanses of mature deciduous or mixed forest for breeding. This species is also believed to be sensitive to logging practices, and was therefore chosen as a key species to monitor the effects of logging by the Wildlife Assessment Program (WAP) of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Since 1990, Bird Studies Canada, in association with the Wildlife Assessment Program of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and many dedicated volunteers, has undertaken a monitoring program to examine trends in numbers of Red-shouldered Hawks in Ontario. The program consists of a roadside volunteer survey involving tape playback of recorded Red-shouldered Hawk calls. Surveyors also gather data on numbers of other raptor species and woodpecker species found along their routes. Woodpeckers also require relatively mature forests for breeding and may be sensitive to the effects of logging. For this reason, the survey is targeted at both hawks and woodpeckers.

In 2001, 56 volunteers surveyed a total of 64 routes, the greatest number of routes surveyed since the survey began. Four people surveyed 2 routes each and one incredible pair of volunteers surveyed an amazing seven routes. Once again, a heartfelt thanks to Bob and Joanne Knudsen for their enthusiasm and dedication! This year, 216 Red-shouldered Hawks were reported on 80% of the complete survey routes, with a mean of 3.7 hawks per route. The hot-spot for Red-shouldered Hawks in Ontario is in the eastern part of the province, near Kingston. This region consistently records the highest numbers of Red-shouldered Hawks.

Population trends of Red-shouldered Hawks based on data collected from the Red-shouldered Hawk and Spring Woodpecker Survey from 1991-2001 showed that despite annual fluctuations, the population has shown no significant change and thus appears to be stable.

Thirteen other raptor species have been recorded during the Red-shouldered Hawk surveys, including a new species in 2001, the Peregrine Falcon. Red-shouldered Hawk was encountered more frequently than any other raptor species, presumably reflecting the choice of habitat for conducting the survey, as well as the use of a broadcast tape to increase response of the target species. Turkey Vulture was the second most common raptor species recorded by volunteers (mean: 1.81 birds/route), followed by Broad-winged Hawk (mean: 1.31 birds/route) and American Kestrel (mean: 0.24 birds/route). Average numbers of each raptor species have not changed dramatically between 1991 and 2001.

Table 1 - Mean number of birds per route for the top five raptor species recorded annually on the Red-shouldered Hawk and Spring Woodpecker Survey from 1997-2001 and the long-term average (1991-2001).