Muyu Management and Conservation Center Rescues Crested Goshawk

It was identified that the “eagle” was the national second-level protected crested goshawk and it was trapped in the chicken pen when hunting and was eventually picked up by the villager who heard something and rushed to the scene.

Examination showed that without outward signs of physical trauma, the crested goshawk can flap its wings with force and is capable of flight, full of vigor and vitality. It was then released on the spot after consulting with an expert from the scientific research institute.

The crested goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus) is a resident bird that usually inhabits montane forests and foothill forest fringes below 2,000 meters. The altitude of its habitat can be up to 2,400 meters. It is also found in bamboo forests and small bushwood areas, and occasionally in the foothill plains and near villages. It is alert and good at hiding, often in leafy bushes. Sometimes, it perches on isolated branches in the open. It is mostly alone and often flies in the air for a long time. Frogs, lizards, rodents and insects, as well as birds and small mammals are its preys. The breeding season for crested goshawks generally takes place between March and May. Nests are built on tall trees along creeks or ponds in the forest, large, consisting of sticks and twigs, and lined with leaves. Two or three eggs are laid each time.

The crested goshawk, with a small population, is beneficial in rodent extermination and is also valuable in scientific research and ecosystems. It has been listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and classified as China’s key wildlife species under second-level State protection. (By\ Xiang Mingrui)