Speakers and Lectures

Since the insecticide DDT was banned, population sizes of most birds of prey have increased across the continent. In particular, the bird-eating Accipiter hawks such as Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks are increasing in abundance and are now observed more frequently than ever before at backyard feeders. Still, remarkably little is known about the behavior of these predators. Dr. Roth ’97, research associate at University of Nevada, Reno, has studied the behavior of these hawk species during the winter with the goal of understanding how they influence the risk of predation in their prey. The public is invited to hear Dr. Roth discuss the predatory behavior of these hawks and how his research allows us to understand the interactions between prey and predators at different spatial scales, what these hawks need to survive, and what aspects of modern landscapes might influence their populations and success. Sponsored by Linn County Connections and the Anderson Natural Science Lecture Endowment.