[Volunteers_fosm] Fwd: PUBLIC SAFETY NOTICE - Sandia Ranger District: Northern Goshawks Defend Breeding Territory May - August

[Michael Madden]

Please heed the following advice:
".. a pair of Northern Goshawks are defending a mating territory along the
Amijo, Pine Drop, Cresta, and Valle Trails. We are strongly encouraging
visitors to avoid this area. Visitors that choose to recreate in this area
should move quietly and calmly, wear wide brimmed hats, eye protection, and
stay alert. If a Goshawk is encountered through alarm calls or defensive
behavior, leave the area immediately while keeping eyes on the bird. The
Goshawks will continue to defend their territory through the middle of
August, when the young fledge and venture out on their own."

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: FS-Cibola PAO <SM.FS.CibolaPAO at usda.gov>
Date: Wed, May 21, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Subject: PUBLIC SAFETY NOTICE - Sandia Ranger District: Northern Goshawks
Defend Breeding Territory May - August
To:


*PUBLIC SAFETY NOTICE*

[image: Forest Service Shield]

*Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands*

2113 Osuna Road NE

Albuquerque, NM 87113

(505) 346-3900

www.fs.usda.gov/cibola

www.facebook.com/cibolanf

x.com/cibola_nf


Public Safety Notice
Northern Goshawks Defend Breeding Territory *Sandia Ranger District: May -
August*

*ALBUQUERQUE, NM – May 21, 2025 *– The Cibola National Forest and National
Grasslands is advising visitors to the Cienega and Sulphur recreation sites
on the Sandia Ranger District that a pair of Northern Goshawks are
defending a mating territory along the Amijo, Pine Drop, Cresta, and Valle
Trails. Northern Goshawks often defend their breeding territories during
nesting season with aggressive behavior, including loud vocalizations,
swooping down, and, in rare cases making contact with intruders.

We are strongly encouraging visitors to avoid this area. Visitors that
choose to recreate in this area should move quietly and calmly, wear wide
brimmed hats, eye protection, and stay alert. If a Goshawk is encountered
through alarm calls or defensive behavior, leave the area immediately while
keeping eyes on the bird.

“The Northern Goshawk is a large and powerful forest dwelling bird of prey
that depends on mature forests to thrive. The Goshawks have started to
defend their breeding territory within the Sandia Mountains. Forest Service
staff have received reports of these Goshawks aggressively swooping down on
forest visitors. The Goshawks will continue to defend their territory
through the middle of August, when the young fledge and venture out on
their own. This unique species is an important part of a healthy forest
ecosystem, and it is important that the public let these impressive raptors
have the space and safety they deserve to raise their young successfully.
Choosing another part of the district to enjoy is safer for both the
Goshawk and for you.” *Andrew Ellis, Wildlife Biologist - USDA Forest
Service - Sandia Ranger District *



[image: Photo: Adult northern goshawk. Photo by Jack Kirkley.]Visitors to
the Sandia Ranger District are encouraged to explore other recreation sites
and trails on the Cibola National Forest at:
www.fs.usda.gov/r03/cibola/recreation



Further information contact the Sandia Ranger District:
11776 Hwy. 337, Tijeras, NM 87059 (505-281-3304)

*Photo: Adult Northern Goshawk. Photo by Jack Kirkley.*





This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely
for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message
or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law
and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you
have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
the email immediately.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/volunteers_fosm/attachments/20250521/134fe297/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 7801 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/volunteers_fosm/attachments/20250521/134fe297/attachment-0001.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image004.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 9109 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/volunteers_fosm/attachments/20250521/134fe297/attachment-0002.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 80454 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/volunteers_fosm/attachments/20250521/134fe297/attachment-0003.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 2025 Sandia RD Armijo Canyon Area Trail Map.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 443616 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/volunteers_fosm/attachments/20250521/134fe297/attachment-0002.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 2025_05_21_SandiaRD Northern Goshawk NR.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 296510 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/volunteers_fosm/attachments/20250521/134fe297/attachment-0003.pdf>