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Abstract
The northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) has rapidly become a species of high conservation priority due to decades of habitat loss causing widespread population declines. While past restoration efforts have led to increases in bobwhite populations, avian predation remains a main hindrance to bobwhite survival. The purpose of this study was to determine the landscape characteristics which influence red-tailed hawk and red-shouldered hawk densities in bobwhite habitat and the relationship between those densities and bobwhite survival. Our results indicate that greater tree cover and low NDVI had a positive effect on red-shouldered hawk density. Our results also show that less tree cover, less herbaceous cover, high NDVI values, and proximity to pen-raised bobwhites had a positive effect on red-tailed hawk density. Red-shouldered hawk abundance had a negative effect on bobwhite survival while we failed to detect an effect of red-tailed hawk abundance on bobwhite survival.