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Breeding Season Diet and Prey Selection of the New Zealand Falcon (Falco Novaeseelandiae) in a Plantation Forest Author(S): Richard Seaton, Noel Hyde, John D

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Breeding Season Diet and Prey Selection of the New Zealand Falcon (Falco Novaeseelandiae) in a Plantation Forest Author(S): Richard Seaton, Noel Hyde, John D Breeding Season Diet and Prey Selection of the New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) in a Plantation Forest Author(s): Richard Seaton, Noel Hyde, John D. Holland, Edward O. Minot, and Brian P. Springett Source: Journal of Raptor Research, 42(4):256-264. 2008. Published By: The Raptor Research Foundation DOI: 10.3356/JRR-07-50.1 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.3356/JRR-07-50.1 BioOne (www.bioone.org) is an electronic aggregator of bioscience research content, and the online home to over 160 journals and books published by not-for-profit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder. BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. J. Raptor Res. 42(4):256–264 E 2008 The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc. BREEDING SEASON DIET AND PREY SELECTION OF THE NEW ZEALAND FALCON (FALCO NOVAESEELANDIAE)INA PLANTATION FOREST RICHARD SEATON Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand NOEL HYDE Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust, P.O. Box 993, Rotorua, New Zealand JOHN D. HOLLAND,EDWARD O. MINOT,1 AND BRIAN P. SPRINGETT Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand ABSTRACT.—We studied the diet of the endemic New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) in a pine plantation forest by identifying species occurring in pellets and prey remains collected from 37 nest sites during the 2003 and 2004 breeding seasons. We assessed bird species abundance along transects in differ- ent-aged pine stands and along stand edges. Diet and prey abundance were compared to determine whether birds were taken disproportionately or in proportion to their abundance in the environment. Birds composed the greatest proportion of the diet, 84% by frequency and 74% by biomass. Common Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) were taken most frequently, but Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula) and European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) contributed more by biomass, although rabbits were not recorded at every nest site. Bird density increased significantly with stand age but was highest along stand edges. Chaffinches were the most abundant species and taken in proportion to their availability. Species that occurred in open habitat (e.g., Yellowhammers [Emberiza citrinella]) or were of medium size (e.g., black- birds) were taken more than expected based on their availability. Very small species (e.g., Grey Gerygone [Gerygone igata]) were taken in lower proportions than expected from their abundance. Proportions of bird species preyed upon were correlated most closely with bird species abundance in young pine stands (P 5 0.02, r 2 5 0.52). In a pine plantation habitat, New Zealand Falcons took primarily the more abundant species, those intermediate in size (16–160 g), and those frequenting open habitat. KEY WORDS: New Zealand Falcon; Falco novaeseelandiae; diet; plantation; prey. DIETA Y SELECCIO´ N DE PRESAS DURANTE LA E´ POCA REPRODUCTIVA EN FALCO NOVAESEELAN- DIAE EN UNA PLANTACIO´ N FORESTAL RESUMEN.—Estudiamos la dieta del halco´n ende´mico de Nueva Zelanda (Falco novaeseelandiae) en una plantacio´n forestal de pinos (principalmente Pinus radiata) mediante la identificacio´n de especies encon- tradas en egagro´pilas y restos de presas recolectados en 37 nidos durante las e´pocas reproductivas de 2003 y 2004. Evaluamos la abundancia de especies de aves a lo largo de transectos ubicados dentro de rodales de pino de diferentes edades y a lo largo de bordes de rodales. La dieta y la abundancia de las presas fueron comparadas para determinar si las aves fueron consumidas desproporcionadamente o en proporcio´n a su abundancia en el ambiente. Las aves representaron la mayor parte de la dieta: el 84% de acuerdo a la frecuencia y el 74% de acuerdo a la biomasa. Fringilla coelebs fue la especie ma´s frecuentemente consumida, pero Turdus merula y los conejos Oryctolagus cuniculus contribuyeron ma´s en te´rminos de biomasa, aunque los conejos no se encontraron en todos los sitios de anidacio´n. La densidad de aves aumento´ significati- vamente con la edad de los rodales, pero fue ma´xima a lo largo de los bordes de los rodales. La especie F. coelebs fue la ma´s abundante, y estas aves fueron consumidas en proporcio´n a su disponibilidad. Las especies de aves que eran de ambientes abiertos (e.g., Emberiza citrinella) o que eran de taman˜o mediano (e.g., Turdus) fueron consumidas ma´s de lo esperado de acuerdo a su disponibilidad. Las especies de taman˜o 1 Present address: Ecology Building PN624, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand; email address: e.minot@ massey.ac.nz 256 DECEMBER 2008 DIET OF THE NEW ZEALAND FALCON 257 muy pequen˜o (e.g., Gerygone igata) fueron consumidas en proporciones menores a las esperadas de acuerdo a su abundancia. Las proporciones de especies de aves consumidas se correlacionaron ma´s cercanamente con la abundancia de las especies en rodales de pinos jo´venes (P 5 0.02, r 2 5 0.52). En un ambiente de plantaciones de pinos, Falco novaeseelandiae se alimento´ principalmente de las especies ma´s abundantes, de las de taman˜o intermedio (16–160 g) y de las que frecuentaban ambientes abiertos. [Traduccio´n del equipo editorial] The endemic New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaesee- scape and which prey species contribute the most to landiae) exists in three ecologically distinct forms: the diet, is therefore key to the effective conserva- bush, eastern, and southern (Fox 1977). They breed tion of raptor species. in a variety of habitat types, from rough pasture and We here describe the diet of New Zealand Falcons tussock lands to beech (Nothofagus spp.) and podo- in an exotic pine plantation. We address three fun- carp (Podocarpacae) forests (Fox 1977). Recently, the damental questions about the distribution of prey bush form of the species, which traditionally inhab- species in the diet. (1) Are prey species in the diet its the indigenous forests of the North Island of New taken in proportion to their abundance in the en- Zealand (Fox 1977, Barea et al. 1997), has been vironment? (2) Are prey of certain sizes taken more discovered breeding in exotic pine plantations frequently than would be expected based on their (Stewart and Hyde 2004). The New Zealand Falcon abundance? (3) Does the preferred habitat of the is classified as threatened by the New Zealand De- prey affect the likelihood that it appears in the diet partment of Conservation. The bush form, which is of the falcons? the focus of this study, is classified as ‘nationally vulnerable’ (Hitchmough et al. 2007). This increase STUDY AREA AND METHODS in their range has significant implications for the Study Area. The study was conducted in the cen- conservation of the species. Very little is known of tral plateau of the North Island of New Zealand in the biology of the New Zealand Falcon in its forest Kaingaroa pine plantation (Fig. 1). Kaingaroa For- habitat (Fox 1977, Barea et al. 1997). The diet of est is situated on the Kaingaroa Plateau, immediate- nestling New Zealand Falcons in indigenous forest ly west of the Te Urewera mountain ranges, between has been described (Barea et al. 1999), yet quanti- the cities of Rotorua to the north and Taupo to the fied studies of their diet in exotic forests are lacking. south. Mean monthly temperatures range from 6– The New Zealand Falcon is primarily a bird-catch- 16uC and mean monthly rainfall ranges from 108– ing falcon (Fitzgerald 1965, Fox 1977, Lawrence 153 mm. Kaingaroa Forest is the largest plantation and Gay 1991, Barea 1995, Stewart and Hyde forest in the southern hemisphere and comprises a 2004). They are also known to take reptiles, mam- single 180 000-ha block of primarily radiata pine mals, and insects (Buller 1888, Fitzgerald 1965, Fox (Pinus radiata). This plantation is bordered by dairy 1977), although mammals and reptiles were not re- farms and indigenous podocarp forest to the east corded in the diet of nestlings in indigenous forest and dairy farms to the west. Smaller pine planta- (Barea et al. 1999). They will take a wide range of tions adjoin Kaingaroa Forest at the northern and prey sizes, from insects to prey up to six times their southern boundaries. In New Zealand, stands of ra- body mass, including Ring-necked Pheasants, (Pha- diata pine mature between 25 and 35 yr old and are sianus colchicus) and European hares (Lepus euro- generally felled at this time. The pine trees are har- paeus; Fox 1977, Hyde and Seaton in press). vested in discrete blocks or compartments that are Predators generally take prey species either op- approximately 1 km2, creating a mosaic of different- portunistically, i.e., in proportion to their relative aged pine stands. abundances, or because of their relative profitability Pellets and Prey Remains. Falcon pellets and prey (Jaksic 1989). Some raptor species take most prey remains were collected from nest scrapes and adja- opportunistically (Sodhi and Oliphant 1993, Joy et cent plucking posts over two breeding seasons, Sep- al. 1994, Figueroa and Corales 2005), whereas oth- tember to March 2003 and September to March ers feed more selectively (Steenhof and Kochert 2004. Pellets were dried and dissected using a dis- 1988, Quinn and Cresswell 2004).
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