Gyrfalcon Feeding Behaviour during the Nestling Period in Central West Greenland

• Published in: ARCTIC
• Main Authors: Booms, Travis L., Fuller, Mark R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 2003
• Subjects: camera; falcon; Falco rusticolus; feeding behavior; food habits; Greenland; gyrfalcon; time-lapse video; caméra; faucon; comportement alimentaire; habitudes alimentaires; Groenland; faucon gerfaut; enregistrement vidéo à intervalles; Arctic; Arctic hare; Arctique*
• Online Access: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/63690

We studied gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) food delivery and feeding behavior during the nestling period in central West Greenland during the 2000 and 2001 field seasons. We used time-lapse video cameras installed at three nests to record 2677.25 hours of nestling video. Ptarmigan delivered to nests were usually plucked prior to delivery and included the breast and superior thoracic vertebrae. Arctic hare leverets were rarely plucked and often delivered in parts. The most commonly delivered leveret part was the hind legs attached to the lower back. Passerines were rarely plucked and usually delivered whole. After feeding the young, adults removed 20.9% of prey items from the nest, which included items both with and without obvious muscle still attached. Prey delivery rates were similar among nests and increased as nestlings aged. Prey delivery frequency peaked in the morning and evening, with a distinct lull in the late evening and early morning hours. Male and female adults delivered a similar number of prey, though males typically delivered smaller prey than females. Gyrfalcons cached and re-delivered at least 9.1% of all items delivered, and one item was cached and retrieved three times. Durant les campagnes sur le terrain de 2000 et 2001 dans le centre du Groenland occidental, on a étudié chez le faucon gerfaut (Falco rusticolus) l'apport en nourriture et le comportement alimentaire pendant le séjour au nid. À l'aide de caméras vidéo filmant à intervalles, installées à trois nids, on a enregistré 2677,25 heures de vidéo au nid. Les lagopèdes apportés au nid étaient en général plumés avant d'y être déposés et comprenaient la poitrine et les vertèbres supérieures du thorax. Les jeunes lièvres arctiques étaient rarement pelés et étaient souvent apportés en morceaux. La partie du levraut la plus communément apportée était les pattes arrière rattachées au bas du dos. Les passereaux étaient rarement plumés et étaient en général livrés entiers. Après avoir nourri leurs petits, les adultes enlevaient du nid environ ...