English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

TOMEŠEK, M., ČERMÁK, P.: The food spectrum of sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus L.) and kestrel (Falco tinnunculus L.) in the Chřiby Upland. Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2009, LVII, No. 2, pp. 145–150 In 2006–2008, mapping the sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus L.) and kestrel (Falco tinnunculus L.) occurred in the SE part of the Chřiby Upland. At the same time, the food spectrum of these birds of prey was determined during nesting periods. The area under monitoring represented about 25–30 km2. In each of the species, food was always monitored in a period from February to July at four nesting localities. The food spectrum was analysed by the direct observation of birds of prey, according to le overs of food in the surroundings of nests and in nests of the predators. In Accipiter nisus, the food spectrum consisted of birds (85 %), mammals (3 %) and other animals (12 %). Turdus merula was the most frequent prey. In Falco tinnunculus, the food spectrum consisted of birds (18 %), mammals (76 %) and other animals (6 %). Microtus arvalis was unambiguously the most frequent prey. Accipiter nisus, Falco tinnunculus, food spectrum This paper deals with the food spectrum of two bird of prey species living in the hilly agriculturalforest country of the Chřiby Upland, namely sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus L.) and kestrel (Falco tinnunculus L.). Both predators are virtually of the same size but diff er in their nesting bionomy and food. In recent years, populations of both species show stabilized and slightly increasing character in the CR a er declines in the eighties. Nevertheless, detailed fi ndings on the food spectrum are virtually insuffi cient. Literature sources on the food ecology of these preda tors are rather obsolete (particularly as for sparrowhawk). Farský (1928) and Sládek (1963) dealt with the food of sparrowhawk and kestrel in our country. MATERIALS AND METHODS The food composition of feathered birds of prey can be determined by various methods (Mlíkovský, 1998). Since the studied nesting localities were known very well the method of direct monitoring could be used. Particular nesting localities were monitored in regular intervals. The monitoring was always carried out in suffi cient distance and safe hiding place for birds not to be disturbed in no way. Conventional binoculars were used for monitoring. Although it is possible to determine some types of prey very well as well as what the predator subsequently does with the prey, this method is considerably time-consuming and includes always only certain part of the food spectrum and in many cases even not quite exactly. Therefore, analyses of le overs of prey were par ticu lar ly used. Not-swallowed le overs of prey were determined in the period of nesting right in nests, in places of the regular processing of food, such as tear-off stumps in sparrowhawks, places under trees in kestrels, where the prey is swallowed or at least partly processed. Food residues were collected and subsequently determined with a certain periodicity. Easily detectable residues of prey were determined and recorded right in place; hardly identifi able residues were examined in detail. The type of prey was determined according to a key or the own collection of feather established already in previous years and including feather of our most common birds. In kestrel, the food spectrum was examined rather li mited ly because of the considerable demandingness of the prey type determination. Kestrel feeds on small mammals (about 95 %), which can be largely determined from remaining bones (ie mainly according 146 M. Tomešek, P. Čermák to jaws with teeth). A considerable disadvantage of obtaining food residues in the vicinity of a nest consists in a fact that remainders of bones, feather and bowels are very attractive for other meat-eating species of animals. The determination of food came about in 2006–2008 always from February to July. To obtain food residues, which occurred in a nest or on the nest plateau (thereina er only nest) it was necessary to get to the nest. As for the sparrowhawk, a picker set for the collection of seed or mountaineering equipment was used for this purpose. As for kestrel, it was possible to reach its nest mostly without using a special climbing equipment (in the most diffi cult cases a ladder was used). Climbing to the bird nest was carried out only twice throughout the nesting period because of considerable demandingness and necessary calm for birds. The fi rst inspection of a nest was carried out roughly in the half of time of incubation, which is about the 15th day a er the start of incubation. The concrete time of hatching the chicks was determined visually by means of binoculars. When the chicks were roughly 15 days old, which is about half of a time spent by chicks on a nest, the second climb was realized and the number of chicks in the nest was determined. The age of chicks was determined by qualifi ed estimation in relation to the determined facts concerning the factual time of hatching the chicks. DESCRIPTION OF LOCALITIES Particular localities are described only by capital letters of alphabets because of certain protection from potential risks, eg robbing the nests. The staff of the Buchlovice Forest District, where the research was carried out, also required describing names of particular localities in this way. The studied area occurs in the SE part of the Chřiby Upland. Particular localities are situated in border stands of the whole upland forest complex. A national road of the 1st class E 50 goes through the area dividing it to two halves. The description of localities of Accipiter nisus Locality A: A nesting locality occurring at the edge of the Holý kopec nature reserve. The sparrowhawk nests occur within a distance of 200 m of the road E 50. It refers to about a 40-year mixed stand. In all cases, nests occurred on a larch, the proportion of which was rather high in the stand. Locality B: This nesting locality occurred also in the vicinity of the road E 50 but somewhat closer to Buchlovice. The mixed stand is aged about 70 years and thus, the height of nests corresponds also to this age. Locality C: This nesting locality occurs at the edge of the Smraďavka recreation region in the complex of a spruce monoculture aged about 60 years. Locality D: The most interesting locality occurring in the garden of the State castle of Buchlovice. The locality is exceptional both from the aspect of the number of visitors as well as the species composition of trees off ering the ideal hunting environment for sparrowhawk. The description of localities of Falco tinnuculus Locality A1: A nest occurring in the recess of the Buchlov castle wall. The locality is surrounded particularly by forest complexes and wooded meadows. Locality B1: A nest at this locality is placed in the tower of the St. Martin church in Buchlovice. The church is situated almost in the centre of the village. Locality C1: It refers to a nest established in a bird box of a barrel. This bird box was hung out by workers of the Buchlovice rescue station. The box is placed on a solitary tree in the middle of the agricultural landscape behind Buchlovice. Locality D1: It refers again to nesting in a bird box. The box is situated on a wooden functionless power line pole occurring on a former municipal landfi ll, at present the biological waste landfi ll behind Buchlovice.