Habitat Critical to SurvivalHabitat Critical to Survival

Habitat Critical to Survival

Identification of habitat critical to survival of the Christmas Island Goshawk is difficult due to the lack of information on specific habitat requirements. Although Christmas Island Goshawks may be generalists which forage in most habitats, it is highly likely that they require rainforest to breed as these habitat contain suitable trees. Applying the precautionary principle and using the criteria provided by the EPBC Act, habitat critical to survival of the Christmas Island Goshawks is defined as all Primary Rainforest, Marginal Rainforest (Du Puy 1993) and possibly second-growth forest suitable for nesting. Primary Rainforest and Marginal Rainforest has been identified and mapped (Figure 1). Dexter (2000) recommended mapping the ecological quality of second-growth forests outside the national park. As this has not occurred, and there is insufficient information on the habitat requirements of the Christmas Island Goshawks, suitable second-growth forest cannot be identified at this time.