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Hunting success rates, foraging habits, and prey selection of Peregrine Falcons migrating through central Alberta

1980; Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club; Volume: 94; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.5962/p.347125

0008-3550

Dick Dekker,

Fire effects on ecosystems

In central Alberta during migration seasons from 1965 to 1979, Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) were seen hunting 958 times.Of 674 interactions with potential prey for which the outcome could be established the prey was seized in 52 cases, a success rate of 7.7%.Success rates for adults and spring immatures were 9.8% and 7.1% in 215 and 363 hunts respectively; fall immatures showed a success rate of 2.4% in 42 hunts.Waterfowl and small shorebirds made up 94% of prey taken.Surprise was the basic element of most hunting techniques.A few prey were captured on the ground or in shallow water; all others were seized in the air and borne down.The great majority of birds seen to be caught failed to use escape tactics routinely displayed by their kind.Lone prey individuals were more often killed compared with individuals in flocks.