Australia’s rarest bird of prey - the red goshawk - is facing extinction, with Cape York Peninsula now the only place in Queensland known to support breeding populations.
PhD candidate Chris MacColl from The University of Queensland’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences led the research project that made the discovery and was shocked by the hawk’s dwindling numbers.
“Over four decades the red goshawk has lost a third of its historical range, which is the area that’s it’s previously been known to occupy,” Mr MacColl said.
“It’s barely hanging on in another 30 per cent of regions it has previously been known to inhabit.”
Read more at: University of Queensland
Researchers analysed 40 years of sightings by citizen scientists to uncover concerning population trends. (Photo Credit: Chris McColl)