Background: Table 2

General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-22
The Northern Goshawk in Utah: Habitat Assessment and Management Recommendations

Background

Table 2 -- Characteristics of known nest sites in Utah by forest cover type (based on descriptions provided by Northern Goshawk Interagency Technical Team members and other listed technical contributors) (appendix A).

Forest
types^a
Patch size/
heterogeneity
Stand
structure
Landscape
features
Degree of
use for nesting

ES/SAF
ES/LLP
ES
ES/DF
SAF Small (0.25 to 0.50 acre) openings in large matrix of predominantly mature to old forest habitat; stand sizes 100s to 1000s of acres Moderately dense to dense stocking; trees with interlocking crowns; multistoried stands; large trees; occasional patches of Aspen; clumpy tree distribution; sparse understory vegetation; abundant large woody debris; large snags present. Usually on benches adjacent to drainages or near other water sources. Often near natural openings such as wet meadows. High

LPP
LPP/QA 100s to 1000s of acres, mostly homogeneous Green stands have simple, single-storied structures; stocking varies from dense to very dense ("doghair"); sparse understory vegetation; little down woody debris; closed canopies; few snags. Mature and old stands often much different due to insect activity; many snags, abundant woody debris, open canopies. Limited to the Uinta Mountains of northeastern Utah. Occupies benches, plateaus, moderate slopes along drainages at mid-elevations. Seral aspen often present, especially on moister sites. Most nests near drainages or small meadows. High

QA 10s to 100s of acres, often as forested islands mixed with open habitats such as sagebrush. Moderately dense to dense stands; interlocking crowns; multistoried; large trees present; stout forks form nest platforms; diverse, highly productive understory; moderate amounts of down woody debris. Mesic sites on flat to moderate slopes, often near natural openings. Occupies elevational zone between sage/grasslands and beginning of coniferous forest. Moderate to high

DF/QA
DF/SAF
DF
WF Small (1/4 to 1/2 ac) openings scattered throughout mature forest. Stand size varies; 100s of acres in southern Utah, 10s to 100s in north and west. Dense stands; complex, multistoried structure; high tree species diversity; large trees present; interlocking crowns; abundant down woody debris. Limited to shady aspects, high elevations in dry habitats and to limestone sites in Uintas. Widespread in southern Utah at appropriate elevations. Moderate to high where patch size large; low elsewhere

PP Small (1/4-1/2 acre) openings mixed with patches of varying sizes and ages of trees. Stand size 100s of acres. Two size classes, one with large trees; sometimes mixed with Q. aspen or D. Fir; clumpy tree distribution; more open stands than in other types; large snags present. Found on benches, foothills, plateaus; dry sites but nests often near drainages with perennial water. Moderate

Cottonwood
DF /PP/QA/LPP Small patch size, high variability in tree size and density. Cottonwood often present as small inclusions along drainages in P/J cover types. Multistoried; high tree species diversity; diverse and productive understory; mix of coniferous and deciduous trees when occuring in shady canyon bottoms, dominated by cottonwoods in broader, lower elevation valleys. Narrow, linear stands along perennial streams. Moderate in canyon bottoms, low for exposed valley locations (possible winter habitat?)

P/J Large, homogeneous stands (100s to 1000s of acres) when on P/J sites. More variable, often mixed with small amounts of P. Pine, D. Fir or Cottonwood when on W. Fir or D. Fir sites. Uniform tree distribution; little decadence (snags or down woody material) except in very old stands (200-400 yrs); untreated stands have fairly dense stocking levels and very sparse understory vegetation. Hot, dry sites with poor soils; often on south and west facing slopes. Low (possible winter habitat?)

GO/M
GO/M
GO Small patches in a highly variable mix of open habitats, aspen and conifer stands depending on location. Dense stands; shrubby growth form. Often on steep south or west facing hillsides, sometimes along stream courses. Low

^aRefer to table 1 footnotes for cover type definitions.

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Title: Background: Table 2 RMRS-GTR-22 - The Northern Goshawk in Utah: Habitat Assessment and Management Recommendations
Electronic Publish Date: May 26, 1999
Expires: Indefinite
Last Update: January 15, 2002

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Forest types^a	Patch size/ heterogeneity	Stand structure	Landscape features	Degree of use for nesting

ES/SAF ES/LLP ES ES/DF SAF	Small (0.25 to 0.50 acre) openings in large matrix of predominantly mature to old forest habitat; stand sizes 100s to 1000s of acres	Moderately dense to dense stocking; trees with interlocking crowns; multistoried stands; large trees; occasional patches of Aspen; clumpy tree distribution; sparse understory vegetation; abundant large woody debris; large snags present.	Usually on benches adjacent to drainages or near other water sources. Often near natural openings such as wet meadows.	High
LPP LPP/QA	100s to 1000s of acres, mostly homogeneous	Green stands have simple, single-storied structures; stocking varies from dense to very dense ("doghair"); sparse understory vegetation; little down woody debris; closed canopies; few snags. Mature and old stands often much different due to insect activity; many snags, abundant woody debris, open canopies.	Limited to the Uinta Mountains of northeastern Utah. Occupies benches, plateaus, moderate slopes along drainages at mid-elevations. Seral aspen often present, especially on moister sites. Most nests near drainages or small meadows.	High
QA	10s to 100s of acres, often as forested islands mixed with open habitats such as sagebrush.	Moderately dense to dense stands; interlocking crowns; multistoried; large trees present; stout forks form nest platforms; diverse, highly productive understory; moderate amounts of down woody debris.	Mesic sites on flat to moderate slopes, often near natural openings. Occupies elevational zone between sage/grasslands and beginning of coniferous forest.	Moderate to high
DF/QA DF/SAF DF WF	Small (1/4 to 1/2 ac) openings scattered throughout mature forest. Stand size varies; 100s of acres in southern Utah, 10s to 100s in north and west.	Dense stands; complex, multistoried structure; high tree species diversity; large trees present; interlocking crowns; abundant down woody debris.	Limited to shady aspects, high elevations in dry habitats and to limestone sites in Uintas. Widespread in southern Utah at appropriate elevations.	Moderate to high where patch size large; low elsewhere
PP	Small (1/4-1/2 acre) openings mixed with patches of varying sizes and ages of trees. Stand size 100s of acres.	Two size classes, one with large trees; sometimes mixed with Q. aspen or D. Fir; clumpy tree distribution; more open stands than in other types; large snags present.	Found on benches, foothills, plateaus; dry sites but nests often near drainages with perennial water.	Moderate
Cottonwood DF /PP/QA/LPP	Small patch size, high variability in tree size and density. Cottonwood often present as small inclusions along drainages in P/J cover types.	Multistoried; high tree species diversity; diverse and productive understory; mix of coniferous and deciduous trees when occuring in shady canyon bottoms, dominated by cottonwoods in broader, lower elevation valleys.	Narrow, linear stands along perennial streams.	Moderate in canyon bottoms, low for exposed valley locations (possible winter habitat?)
P/J	Large, homogeneous stands (100s to 1000s of acres) when on P/J sites. More variable, often mixed with small amounts of P. Pine, D. Fir or Cottonwood when on W. Fir or D. Fir sites.	Uniform tree distribution; little decadence (snags or down woody material) except in very old stands (200-400 yrs); untreated stands have fairly dense stocking levels and very sparse understory vegetation.	Hot, dry sites with poor soils; often on south and west facing slopes.	Low (possible winter habitat?)
GO/M GO/M GO	Small patches in a highly variable mix of open habitats, aspen and conifer stands depending on location.	Dense stands; shrubby growth form.	Often on steep south or west facing hillsides, sometimes along stream courses.	Low

^aRefer to table 1 footnotes for cover type definitions.