Iosto Doneddu The northern goshawk is an opportunistic generalist in terms of its diet, preying on a wide variety of species that share its home range. It's not the hare or grouse specialist some proclaim it to be. for many years, and during that time, they build several nests in a core nesting area. David Brinker, a Maryland-based raptor biologist, who's been studying goshawks since 1978, first in Wisconsin and most recently in Pennsylvania's northwestern counties and especially within the Allegheny National Forest, has found that most goshawks are non-migratory residents that expand their winter foraging to areas near their nesting territories. Brinker also has found that goshawk nest success varies greatly from year to year, but many territories are occupied consistently over time. Goshawks are quite secretive around the nest before their young hatch out. MAY 2017 Consequently, they can be difficult to locate. The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania was conducted from 2004 to 2009 with great contribution from a cadre of birders who had experience with rare and difficult-to-find species. But not even their talents and considerable efforts could muster more goshawks in Pennsylvania. Fewer goshawks were found in this second Atlas and in a smaller breeding range. Goshawks were scarce south of Route 80 and west of the Northeast turnpike extension. There are several possible explana37