AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Reproductive Success of American Kestrels: The Role of Prey Abundance and Weather

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2000
Authors:Dawson, RD, Bortolotti, GR
Journal:The Condor
Volume:102
Issue:4
Date Published:2000
ISBN Number:00105422
Keywords:Cerchneis, Cerchneis sparverius, Falco, Falco sparverius, Falco tinnunculus, Falconidae, Tinnunculus, Tinnunculus sparverius
Abstract:We investigated how natural variation in abundance and availability of the main prey of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius), small mammals, influenced provisioning rates by parents, and offspring size and survival. Provisioning behavior of kestrels was not constrained by the abundance of food in the environment; however, the availability of food, mediated through variation in weather, appeared to significantly influence parental provisioning behavior. Moreover, variation in weather had clear effects on reproductive success because nestlings exposed to inclement weather were smaller and lighter at fledging, and less likely to survive to fledging, compared to nestlings raised during good weather conditions. Prey abundance was not related to offspring size or survival. Our results suggest American Kestrels are limited by the availability, as opposed to abundance, of food on territories. It is likely that during our study, prey abundance was above some minimum threshold necessary to support successful reproduction, and so variation in weather affected reproduction more than variation in prey abundance.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/1370308
Short Title:The Condor
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