Diet, diel pattern of prey deliveries and prey handling of nesting urban peregrines (Falco peregrinus) in UK, as revealed by continuous video monitoring

• Main Author: Pettersen, Jenny Standahl
• Other Authors: Steen, Ronny, Sonerud, Geir A.
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås 2022
• Subjects: Falco peregrinus; peregrine falcon; vandrefalk
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3004636

The diet, prey handling behaviour and diel pattern of prey deliveries of an urban nesting pair of the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) in Cromer, UK, was studied through continuous video recording at the nest. The study covered the recordings of the period from the first egg hatched in May until fledging in June. A total of 267 prey items, of which all of them birds, were recorded delivered at the nest during the period. Pigeons (Columbidae) were the most important prey type, both by number and gross prey body mass, comprising 39 % and 72 % respectively. Starlings were the second most common prey type, accounting for 16 % by number and 8 % of total gross prey body mass. The probability of a prey delivery was highest in the morning and in the evening and lowest around solar noon, although the delivery rate varied between the different prey categories. The female delivered the majority of prey items, which differs from earlier findings of that the male performs most of the hunting and providing of prey items for the family. However, this was most likely caused by an assumed food-transfer between the sexes prior to delivery. The probability that a prey item was delivered by the female was affected by nestling age and depended on prey group. The probability that a prey item was decapitated prior to delivery decreased with nestling age and was affected by prey category. Both parents handled prey items at the nest, though the female more than the male. The probability that the male fed the nestlings increased with nestling age and was higher for starling than for all other prey groups. The nestlings were first seen handling a prey unassisted 29 days after hatching. In future studies it could be useful to include additional camera angles and direct observations of the nest to get a wider perspective of the circumstances related to prey deliveries and feeding events. Dietten, døgnmønster for byttedyrleveranser og håndtering av byttedyr til et hekkende par av vandrefalk (Falco peregrinus) i Cromer, Storbritannia, ...