Breeding population trends and pre-migration roost site survey of the Red-footed Falcon in Hungary

Foraging opportunism and feeding frequency are less studied parameters of behaviour in insectivorous falcons, many of which are endangered bird species. In this short study, prey composition and feeding frequency of red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) nestlings were studied using the method of camera recordings during seven days in July 2017 in southwestern Slovakia. Camera recording analyses of 2–3 chicks (14–26 days old) in three nests revealed a significant preference for insects (97%, n = 305 prey items), of which the Italian locust (Calliptamus italicus) was highly predominant (54%). We also found very high average chick feeding frequency (9.9 feedings per hour, n = 29 hours 22 min of regular observations), whereby the females fed their young ones more frequently (64.9%, n = 305 feedings) than the males (35.1%). Analyses of food composition in adverse weather conditions showed that unfavourable weather had a negative effect on chick feeding frequency, and in rainy weather the males fed significantly less than the females.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Foraging opportunism and feeding frequency in the red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) in Slovakia: case study from 2017

Chavko

Krištín

2017

“…The Zeleneč site showed itself to be less suitable from the point of view of food availability. In the last seven years, the RFF has been breeding only at Rusovce, most probably because of links with the populations in Hungary and Austria (Palatitz et al 2015, Dvorak et al 2016). The Tvrdošovce site as well as the other former nesting sites is probably too isolated from the regular breeding population, and that is the reason why despite the quality of their food supply they stay unoccupied by this falcon, also despite their suitable breeding habitats and sufficiency of nest boxes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food supply (Orthoptera, Mantodea, Rodentia and Eulipotyphla) and food preferences of the red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) in Slovakia

Krištín

Tulis

Klimant

et al. 2017

Food supply in the nesting territories of species has a key role to the species diet composition and their breeding success. Red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) preys predominantly on larger insect species with a supplementary portion of smaller vertebrates. In the breeding periods 2014 and 2016 their food supply, focusing on Orthoptera, Mantodea, Rodentia and Eulipotyphla, was analysed at five historical nesting sites of the species in Slovakia. Preference for these prey groups in the diet was also studied at the last active nesting site in this country. Overall we recorded 45 Orthoptera species (of which 23 species are known as the food of the red-footed falcon), one species of Mantodea, 10 species of Rodentia (of which 2 species are known as the food of the red-footed falcon) and 5 species of the Eulipotyphla order in the food supply. With regard to the availability of the falcons' preferred food, in both years the most suitable was the Tvrdošovce site, which continuously showed the greatest range and abundance of particular species. In the interannual comparison the insects showed lower variability in abundance than the small mammals. In 2014 the growth of the common vole (Microtus arvalis) population culminated and with the exception of a single site (Bodza) a slump in abundance was recorded in 2016. In comparing the diet composition with the food supply at the last Slovak breeding site Rusovce (Special Protection Area Sysľovské polia), we recorded significant preference for grasshopper Caliptamus italicus (in 2014), common vole (in 2016) and cricket Tettigonia viridissima (in both years) in the falcons' diet. They did not prey on the Apodemus sylvaticus species belonging among the abundant small mammal species in that locality. Conservation measures in the agricultural landscape are discussed in relation to homogeneous red-footed falcon breeding territories.Abstrakt: Potravná ponuka v hniezdnych teritóriách druhov hrá kľúčovú úlohu pre zloženie potravy druhov a ich hniezdny úspech. Sokol kobcovitý (Falco vespertinus) loví prevažne väčšie druhy hmyzu, dopĺňané menšími stavovcami. V hniezdnom období rokov 2014 a 2016 bola na piatich historických hniezdiskách druhu na Slovensku sledovaná jeho potravná ponuka so zameraním na Orthoptera, Mantodea, Rodentia a Eulipotyphla. Na poslednom aktívnom hniezdisku sa študovalo aj zastúpenie týchto skupín v potrave. Celkovo sme zaznamenali 45 druhov Orthoptera (z toho 23 druhov je známych ako potrava sokola kobcovitého), jeden druh Mantodea, 10 druhov Rodentia (z toho 2 druhy sú známe ako potrava sokola kobcovitého) a 5 druhov radu Eulipotyphla. Z hľadiska potravnej ponuky bola v oboch rokoch najvhodnejšia lokalita Tvrdošovce, ktorá kontinuálne vykazovala najvyššie druhové bohatstvo a abundanciu jednotlivých druhov. V medziročnom porovnaní hmyz vykazoval menšiu variabilitu početnosti ako drobné cicavce. V roku 2014 totiž vrcholila gradácia populácie hraboša poľného (Microtus arvalis), ktorá s výnim-kou jednej lokality (Bodza) zaznamenala v roku 2016 prepad po...

“…In contrast, the redfooted falcon does not choose its place for breeding until May or June, when the nidification period of rooks is almost over (Literák 2008). Palatitz et al (2015) identified the stabilization of existing rook colonies as one of the elements leading to preservation of the red-footed falcon population in the countryside.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring of colonies and provisioning of rooks with nest material as a potential tool for stabilizing colonies and increasing nesting opportunities in the countryside. Project report

Slobodník¹,

Tulis²,

Chavko³

et al. 2017

The rook is a species inhabiting open agricultural landscape whose non-active nests are also used by other bird species for nesting. It is the decline in rook colonies that has been posited as one of the reasons for decrease in the red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) population in Slovakia since the 1970s. During the period from 2012 till 2016, four monitorings of rook colonies were carried out in south-western Slovakia (Diakovce, Nitrianska Osada, Sokolce and Tvrdošovce). In the colony at Tvrdošovce, supporting activity involving provisioning of rooks with nest material was under way from 2014 until 2016. While the colonies at Diakovce and Nitrianska Osada have been showing a slight decrease in the number of nesting rooks, despite larger interannual differences the colony at Sokolce has been showing an upward trend. The size of the colony at Tvrdošovce has been stable since the beginning of the supporting activity. This activity had a statistically significant positive effect on the width of rook nests. In 74 cases in the studied rook colonies we have recorded nesting by three other bird species – Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 43.8%, western jackdaw (Corvus monedula) 39.7% and long-eared owl (Asio otus) 16.4%. In 2015 two female redfooted falcons were observed in the colony at Tvrdošovce.