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Nesting ecology of the Seychelles Kestrel Falco araea on Mahe, Seychelles
Author(s) -
WATSON J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1992.tb03808.x
Subject(s) - kestrel , nest (protein structural motif) , archipelago , avian clutch size , ecology , biology , brood , predation , geography , zoology , reproduction , biochemistry
The Seychelles Kestrel Falco araea is an endemic species confined to several granitic islands in the Seychelles archipelago. Over the three years 1975‐77 a total of 227 nesting attempts were observed on the island of Mahe. Eggs were laid between August and October and only one brood was reared each year. Laying occurred consistently at a time of increasing food abundance and young were in the nest when food was at a maximum. Clutch‐size was invariably 2 or 3, incubation lasted 30 days, the nestling period was 38 days and the post‐nestling period about 14 weeks. In upland areas (above 200 m a.s.l.) the majority of pairs (69%) nested on cliffs and the remainder in trees. At lower elevations (below 200 m a.s.l.) most used coconut palms (46%), with smaller numbers in cliffs (28%), trees (13%) and buildings (13%). Only 19% of pairs nesting in coconut palms fledged young compared with 35% in buildings, 68% in trees and 76% in cliffs. These differences may be related to differences in predation pressure. Overall breeding success was significantly depressed in 1977 compared with 1975 and 1976. This coincided with food shortage, notably of green geckos Phelsuma spp., in 1977.