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Aspects of the Ecology of the Grey Falcon Falco Hypoleucos in the South Australian Arid Zone

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Aspects of the Ecology of the Grey Falcon Falco Hypoleucos in the South Australian Arid Zone Corella, 2010, 35(1): 23–28 Aspects of the ecology of the Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos in the South Australian arid zone Ian D. Falkenberg Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Kingston Street, Burra, South Australia 5417. E-mail: [email protected] Received: 29 July 2010 Breeding productivity and diet of the Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos were recorded in the Strzelecki Creek region of arid north-eastern South Australia in 1982–85 and 1995–2000, by systematic searches for nests (n = 4 found), inspection of their contents on repeat visits within a season by climbing or by pole-mounted mirror, and by analysis of prey remains and pellets collect from within and beneath nests. One nesting pair was found in each of 1982 (C/2 failed), 1984 (B/2 chicks), 1996 (B/3 chicks) and 1998 (B/3 feathered nestlings ~5 weeks old). Nests were vacant stick nests of Black Kites Milvus migrans and corvids in the canopies of Coolibahs Eucalyptus coolabah, and laying occurred in August–September (n = 4 clutches/broods). Diet was entirely birds (n = 20 prey items from the three nests with chicks). General habits, interspecifi c confl ict and defence of the nest against humans are described. Ethical issues relating to the banding of the Falcon chicks in 1984 are discussed. INTRODUCTION During raptor surveys along the Strzelecki Creek in the breeding seasons of 1982–85 and 1995–2000, I recorded four The scarce, little-known Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos, of Grey Falcon breeding events. In this paper are described the remote Australian arid zone, is offi cially listed as rare in aspects of the Falcon’s fi eld characteristics, breeding biology, South Australia (see Sutton 2011 for a review). Its breeding reproductive success and interspecifi c interactions observed range has contracted inland since the 1950s, and it is suspected during these surveys. Also discussed are some ethical issues to have been adversely affected by human impacts in the arid relating to the banding of one brood of Falcon chicks in 1984, and semi-arid zones (e.g. Olsen and Olsen 1986; Marchant and partly relating to band size (see Schoenjahn 2011), and about Higgins 1993; Garnett and Crowley 2000). The little previous which rumours have been circulating ever since among banders research in South Australia has concerned amateur observational/ and raptor biologists. That is, the chicks were banded (by another photographic studies of the behaviour and diet of nesting pairs member of the survey team) at a young age with inappropriately on the Strzelecki Creek/Cooper Basin in the north-east (Cupper large bands (size 27) for this species, notwithstanding one chick and Cupper 1980, 1981; Hollands 1984). being sexed as male, thus risking the welfare of the chicks. Those In at least some years, the Strzelecki and Cooper Creek rumours, of alleged injury to one chick, are here clarifi ed. drainage systems are among South Australia’s most important STUDY AREA raptor breeding areas (e.g. Cupper and Cupper 1981; Mace 1981; Hollands 1984). Expeditions have been mounted to the The arid zone of South Australia, north of a line from the Murray Strzelecki Creek since 1980 to document breeding events and River where it crosses the South Australian/Victorian border to band raptors, including Grey Falcons, although there have been Morgan (34°S) and Port Augusta (32°S) thence westwards to the ethical issues relating to these activities (e.g. Baker-Gabb 1986; Western Australian border, comprises approximately 80 percent Dennis 1986, 1989). These issues have included: of the state’s land area, with about half of this area under pastoral • trail-blazing (vehicle tracks) directly to raptor nests; leases and half under conservation reserves and Indigenous land use (see Ehmann 2005). The Strzelecki Desert, in the north- • unauthorised marking of eggs, by non-researchers; eastern corner of South Australia (28–29°S), is dissected by the Strzelecki Creek, which is lined by a narrow riparian woodland • failure to notify rangers of visits to the Strzelecki Creek; surrounded by linear, parallel sand dunes. The Strzelecki Creek receives fl ows from the Cooper Creek only under extreme fl ood • unauthorised climbing to nests and handling eggs or chicks conditions and, consequently, is inundated much less frequently (i.e. without research permits or suffi cient expertise); than the Cooper (see Falkenberg et al. 2000 for further details and • photographers and observers keeping adult raptors off nests, map). The study area has low and highly variable rainfall (<50 and thus exposing eggs or young to sun, heat and predetation; mm to almost 300 mm p.a. at Merty Merty Station, with a mean of 138 mm p.a. over the study period; Figure 1). Important land • ‘rally’ banding and band ‘transplants’, including listed types are watercourse and fl oodplain systems. Effective rainfall vulnerable species, by unlicensed and inexperienced (spread throughout the cooler months) is more important than banders. total rainfall, e.g. summer thunderstorms that generate runoff 23 24 I.D. Falkenberg: Aspects of the ecology of the Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos in the South Australian arid zone Corella 35(1) 300 250 200 150 rainfall (mm) 100 50 0 1995 1977 1991 1993 1999 1981 1983 1989 1997 1979 1985 1987 year Figure 1. Annual rainfall (mm) and long-term average for Merty Merty Station, Strzelecki Creek, South Australia (1977 to 2000). but little sustained plant growth and recruitment or improved 1980s and mid to late 1990s), with two surveys undertaken rangeland condition, although the benefi t of effective rainfall during each breeding season (August/September and October/ can be depressed by heavy total grazing pressure (stock plus November according to seasonal conditions) to determine raptor rabbits). The main land uses in the region are cattle and sheep productivity and nesting success (following Postupalsky 1974; grazing, mining and mineral exploration, oil and gas production, search protocol described by Falkenberg et al. 2000). During conservation and tourism. the 1982 to 1985 surveys, active raptor nests were located by systematically searching creek drainage channels and associated The survey area was that part of the lower and middle fl oodplain habitats (including trees in the inter-dune swales). Strzelecki fl oodplain (0.5–3 km wide) from Tinga Tingana Nest activity was determined by inspecting each nest with Crossing to Toolache Waterhole (see Figure 1 of Falkenberg et binoculars, then climbing each tree to determine the number al. 2000). In the 1980s survey period, total grazing pressure of eggs or young. Less invasive search and nest-assessment (pre-calicivirus) was extremely high, with introduced European methods (by pole-mounted mirror rather than climbing) were Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus in plague numbers causing, in adopted during the later survey (1990s), as described elsewhere concert with other grazing animals, a signifi cant impact on (Falkenberg et al. 2000). Databases (ABBBS, RAOU Nest rangeland condition and habitat quality. For instance, rabbits Record Scheme) were also used to ascertain the raptor breeding had all but destroyed (by ringbarking and burrowing under community of the Strzelecki Creek in 1982–87, as determined the roots) the formerly common, but now rare, stands of Dune by banders and other researchers (see Falkenberg et al. 2000). Wattle Acacia ligulata on the fl oodplain and dunes. The previous occupants (i.e. original builders) of the stick In the 1990s survey period (post-calicivirus), after good nests of falcons were determined by their site and construction, rains and a very low rabbit population (see Falkenberg et al. and/or by observing the former owners nesting in the preceding 2000), much of the desert and drainage-system vegetation years. In 1995–2000, all raptor and corvid nests were recorded had responded positively, with improved vegetative cover and by GPS and mapped, so the owners in the prior year were known increased herbage and seed production. The Strzelecki Regional for 1996–2000. The 1984 Grey Falcon nest had been a corvid Reserve was de-stocked in the mid 1990s, and has been ungrazed nest in 1983, and the 1982 nest was a corvid nest on the basis of for approximately 15 years. A 10-kilometre section of creek and its construction, lining, size and location in the tree. dune system from Mundibarcooloo Waterhole to Merty Merty which is outside the reserve, has been stocked intermittently Grey Falcon nestlings were aged and sexed on the basis of during this period. my familiarity with known-age captive and wild nestlings of METHODS the analogous Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus, information on its nestling growth stages (e.g. Marchant and Higgins 1993), Grey Falcon nests were located during surveys of breeding and known reversed sexual size dimorphism of the Grey Falcon raptors on the Strzelecki Creek and a biological survey of the and published photographs of its known-age chicks (e.g. Cooper Basin in 1982–85 (e.g. Baker-Gabb 1986), including Cupper and Cupper 1981; Hollands 1984). Observations of banding by some participants, and during surveys of the effect behaviour were obtained incidentally during nest checks for of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (calicivirus) on rabbits and diet and productivity data, and sustained observations were raptors in 1995–2000 (Falkenberg et al. 2000). Extensive made of nesting behaviour from a distance using binoculars and searches by teams of people were undertaken in the study telescope, especially in October 1984 when observations were area to locate active raptor nests in the two time periods (early recorded over a period of seven days. March 2011 I.D. Falkenberg: Aspects of the ecology of the Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos in the South Australian arid zone 25 Prey remains were collected from within and under each active Grey Falcon nest, and pellets were collected from beneath nests that contained young and from under the male’s plucking and perching sites (if known).
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