The breeding ecology, nesting habitat preference, and territory occupancy of white-tailed hawks, red-tailed hawks, and crested caracaras in south Texas

I investigated the nesting ecology of three sympatric raptors on a large private ranch in Brooks County, Texas, during 2003-2009. White-tailed Hawks (Buteo albicaudatus) and Crested Caracaras (Caracara cheriway) are two of the least studied raptors in North America, and the ecology of Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) in Texas has not been thoroughly studied. I compared phenological and reproductive estimates to determine if these parameters varied between wet and dry years for each species. Additionally, I examined their nesting habitat preference, specifically whether they selected their nests in relation to neighboring nests of conspecifics and hetreospecifics, and in relation to anthropogenic features, such as roads and windmills. I also investigated the composition and configuration of patches within their territories and whether these differed from the general study area. Finally, I quantified territory quality and examined whether these spatial and landscape variables were related to occupancy and nest reuse rates.;This thesis follows the format of the Journal of Raptor Research .