Open Access
How to translate text using browser tools
1 December 2001 Feeding Activity and Seasonal Changes in Prey Composition of urban Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus
Łukasz Rejt
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Despite the increasing populations of Peregrine Falcons in European cities, detailed quantitative studies of their diet composition and feeding activity in urban environments are rare. The results from observations in Warsaw have added to the knowledge of the feeding ecology of urban raptors. In 2000 and 2001 the same pair of Peregrines bred successfully in nest boxes situated on two different buildings in the city centre, rearing three and four chicks in the respective years. During the breeding seasons from hatching to fledging, the nests were monitored with a video camera. Only diurnal observations were used in the detailed analysis of feeding activity — 428 h in 2000 (33 days) and 384 h (24 days) in 2001. Two peaks of parental activity were noted: in the morning and in the afternoon. Additional data collected in 2000 showed that the falcons also fed their young at night. In 1998–2001 486 prey remains were collected on the buildings occupied by the Peregrines. In Warsaw these falcons preyed most often on Feral Pigeons (32%), and also on various thrush species (23.5%), Skylarks (8%) and Corncrakes (5.6%). Seasonal variations in prey composition were identified. During the spring and autumn migrations, the proportion of pigeons in the falcons' diet was 10–19%, while in summer and winter it was over 40%. The trend was reversed with regard to migrant species, which were prevalent in the diet in spring and autumn, but less numerous in summer and winter.

LITERATURE

1.

G. Busche , H. A. Bruns , P. Todt 1998. Zunahme rastender Wanderfalken (Falco peregrinus) im Westen von SchleswigHolstein ab 1980. Vogelwarte 39: 183–189. Google Scholar

2.

T. J. Cade , D. M. Bird 1990. Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus nesting in an urban environment: a review. Canadian Field-Naturalist 104: 209–218. Google Scholar

3.

T. J. Cade, M. Martell, P. Redig, G. A. Septon, H. B. Tordoff 1996. Peregrine Falcons in urban North America. In: D. M. Bird, D. E. Varland, J. J. Negro Raptors in urban landscapes. Academic Press, pp. 13–23. Google Scholar

4.

S. Cramp (ed.). 1980. Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Oxford University Press. Google Scholar

5.

H. Q. Crick , D. Ratcliffe 1995. The Peregrine Falco peregrinus: breeding populations of the United Kingdom in 1991. Bird Study 42: 1–19. Google Scholar

6.

C. Dijkstra , A. Bult , S. Bijlsma , S. Daan , T. Meijer , M. Zijlstra 1990. Brood size manipulations in the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus): effects on offspring and parent survival. J. Anim. Ecol. 59: 269–285. Google Scholar

7.

J. E. Enderson, W. Heinrich, L. Kiff, C. M. White 1995. Population changes in North American Peregrines. Trans. 60th No. Am. Wildl. & Natur. Resour. Conf., pp. 142–161. Google Scholar

8.

J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal (ed.). 1994. Handbook of the Birds of the World. V. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Editions, Barcelona, 638 pp. Google Scholar

9.

N. W. Gard , D. M. Bird 1990. Breeding behavior of American Kestrels raising manipulated brood sizes in years of varying prey abundance. Willson Bull. 102: 605–614. Google Scholar

10.

M. Hennen 1996. The Peregrine Falcon: time to delist? Meadowlark 5: 42–47. Google Scholar

11.

J. Hruška, D. Melichar, V. Stovicek 2000. [Reintroduction and breeding of the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) in Plzen, Czech Republic] Buteo 11: 139–147. Google Scholar

12.

M. Luniak , W. Kalbarczyk , W. Pawłowski 1964. [Birds of Warsaw]. Acta Ornithol. 8: 175–285. Google Scholar

13.

U. Mammen , M. Stubbe 2000. Zur Lage der Greifvögel und Eulen in Deutschland von 1995 bis 1998. Vogelwelt 121: 207–215. Google Scholar

14.

M. S. Martel , H. B. Tordoff , P.T. Redig 1994. The introduction of three native raptors into the Midwestern United States. W: B.-U. Meyburg, R. D. Chancellor (ed.). Raptor Conservation Today. WWGBP, The Pica Press. Google Scholar

15.

T. Mizera , J. Sielicki 1995 The Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus in Poland — its situation and perspectives for reinstatement. Acta Ornithol. 30: 47–52. Google Scholar

16.

J. Mlikovsky , J. Hruška 2000. [Food of the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) in Plzen, Czech Republic]. Buteo 11: 125–127. Google Scholar

17.

T. H. Müller 1989. Management am Berliner Wanderfalkenpaar. Pica 16: 114–120. Google Scholar

18.

L. Peške 1997. [Successful nesting of Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) in Prague in 1996]. Buteo 9: 109–114. Google Scholar

19.

D. Rabosee , de H. Warrin , M. Janssens 2000. [Uncommon preys of the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) in urban site]. Aves 37: 70–72. Google Scholar

20.

L. Ranazzi 1995. Dati preliminari sul regime alimentare del Falco pellegrino Falco peregrinus a Roma. Avocetta 19: 122. Google Scholar

21.

D. Ratcliffe 2000. The Peregrine Falcon. Calton, England, 416 pp. Google Scholar

22.

Ł Rejt . 2000. [The diet of Peregrines in Warsaw (1998–1999)]. Notatki Ornitol. 41: 165–170. Google Scholar

23.

Ł. Rejt , M. Maniakowski 2000. [Bird collisions with the Palace of Culture in Warsaw]. Notatki Ornitol. 41: 319–326. Google Scholar

24.

Ł. Rejt, K. Turlejski, K. Bronche, A. Oszustowicz 2000. Can food caching increase feeding frequency in urban Kestrels Falco tinnunculus? Acta Ornithol. 35: 217–221. Google Scholar

25.

G. Roberts 1999 Brighton's peregrines have been at it again. Urban wildlife news 16: 4. Google Scholar

26.

L. Salvati , A. Manganaro , S. Fattornini , E. Piatella 1999. Population features of Kestrels Falco tinnunculus in urban, suburban and rural areas in Central Italy. Acta Ornithol. 34: 53–58. Google Scholar

27.

R. Schneider 1995. Der Wanderfalke Falco peregrinus als Brutvogel in der Großstadt — Neue Chancen für eine vom Aussterben bedrohte Tierart? Ornit. Beob. 92: 315–319. Google Scholar

28.

R. Schneider , I. Wilden 1994. Choice of prey and feeding activity of urban Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus during the breeding season. W: B.-U. Meyburg, R. D. Chancellor (eds). Raptor Conservation Today. WWGBP, The Pica Press, pp. -. Google Scholar

29.

G. A. Septon , J. B. Marks , T. Ellestad 1995. A preliminary assessment of Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus recovery in Midwestern North America. Acta Ornithol. 30: 65–68. Google Scholar

30.

J. Sielicki , J. Sielicki 1999. [Results of Peregrines restitution in 1999]. Myślistwo ptasze 4: 14–19. Google Scholar

31.

P. Sömmer 1989. Die Ernährung des berliner Wanderfalkenpaares. Pica 16: 120–129. Google Scholar

32.

W. Taczanowski 1882. [Polish birds]. Vol. 1. Kraków. Google Scholar

33.

J. L. Tella, F. Hiraldo, J. A. Donazar-Sancho, J. J. Negro 1996. Costs and benefits of urban nesting in the Lesser Kestrel. In: D. Bird, D. Varland, J. Negro 1996. Raptors in the human landscape. Academic Press, pp. 53–60. Google Scholar

34.

J.-M. Thiollay 1982. Les ressources alimentaires, facteur limitant la reproduction d'une population insulaire de faucons pelerins, Falco peregrinus brookei. Alauda 50: 1–44. Google Scholar

35.

L. Tomiałojć 1970. [Quantitative studies on the synanthropic avifauna of Legnica and its environs]. Acta Ornithol. 12: 293–392. Google Scholar

36.

P. Wegner 1994. Population, Ecology of Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus in Baden-Württemberg, 1965–1991. In: B.-U. Meyburg, R. D. Chancellor (eds). Raptor Conservation Today. WWGBP, The Pica Press, pp: 211–218. Google Scholar
Łukasz Rejt "Feeding Activity and Seasonal Changes in Prey Composition of urban Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus," Acta Ornithologica 36(2), 165-169, (1 December 2001). https://doi.org/10.3161/068.036.0201
Received: 1 October 2001; Accepted: 1 November 2001; Published: 1 December 2001
KEYWORDS
diet
Falco peregrinus
feeding activity
Peregrine Falcon
urban area
Back to Top