Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
3.3.3.5 Other Land Birds The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is a federally listed Threatened species native to Longleaf Pine habitats in the Sandhills, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain ecoregions. It also uses other natural communities such as the wet pine stands found in Dare, Tyrrell and Hyde counties and Pond Pine- dominated pocosins found on Holly Shelter Game Land. Intense recovery efforts, including annual monitoring and excavation of supplemental artificial cavities, have allowed many managed lands to meet their goals for population recovery. However, continued management of Longleaf Pine and other habitats where it is found is necessary to continue recovery of this species. The Eastern Whip-poor-will has averaged a 2.8% annual decline since 1966 (Sauer et al. 2013) . Because of its nocturnal habits, this species is not well documented through traditional surveys, and thus little is known about its current status. In 2007, the Nightjar Survey Network (nightjars.org) began monitoring this species and other nightjars using volunteers to run survey routes. These data will be important to better assess the status of these cryptic species. In addition to the Whip-poor-will, other aerial insectivores have experienced significant declines in North America. The global decline in insect abundance and in quality of insect prey is a concern. 3.3.3.6 Birds of Prey Birds of prey, also called raptors, are species in the orders Accipitriformes, Cariamiformes, Cathartiformes, Falconiformes, and Strigiformes (McClure et al. 2019, 2022). In North Carolina, this group of birds includes various hawks, falcons, eagles, vultures, and owls. According to McClure (et al. 2022) , the Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle were the animals most commonly listed in 2015 SWAPs throughout the United States. The article also notes that raptor population index values from migration counts for the period 2009 to 2019 indicate decreasing abundance at count sites for Sharp-shinned Hawk and Rough-legged Hawk. Migration count data over the long term suggest that raptor populations in North Carolina are largely stable. Yet, cross- referencing trends from raptor migration counts, Breeding Bird Surveys, and Christmas Bird Counts reveal notable shifts in migratory behavior may be contributing to lower observed migration numbers (McClure et al. 2019, Farmer et al. 2008). The following information briefly highlights the current status of some birds of prey found in North Carolina. • Since the conclusion in 1996 of North Carolina’s efforts to reintroduce the Peregrine Falcon, a subset of nests has been monitored annually. Every year, NCWRC biologists monitor Peregrine Falcons nesting on cliffs in western North Carolina mountains either by watching them through spotting scopes or using cameras installed near nesting sites. Territory occupancy, nest success, and productivity remain at or below the national average. Sixteen territories have been documented; however, a dozen territories are documented most years. Contributing factors to low nesting success include human disturbance (climbers, drone operators) and nest predation.
• Barn Owls and American Kestrels are two raptor species of open habitats with suspected declines in North Carolina and documented declines elsewhere (Smallwood et al. 2009) . Loss of
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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