J. RaptorRes. 39 (2):149-155 @ 2005 The Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc. BREEDINGBIOLOGYAND FOOD ITABITS OF THE MADAGASCAR KESTREL (FALCO NEWTONI\ IN NORTHEASTERN MADAGASCAR Lrlv-AnrsoN RrNn oE Ror-AND, JL{NNENEY RABEARrvoNy, FlAn[-er-A.rNe RoBENARINL{NGASoN, AND GII-BERT RazarIrr.raN;ano ThePeregrine lund\ Prolectin Ma.dagascar,B.P 4113,Antananariuo (101), Mad,agascar Russr,ll Tnonsrnolrl The Peregrine Fund, 5668 West F\ing Hawh Lane, Boise, ID 83709 U.S.A- ABSTRA.CT.-We studied Madagascar Kestrels (Falco neutonfi on Masoala Peninsula, northeastern Mada- gascar during the 1997 and 1998 breeding seasons.We located five nest sites and observed eight nesting attempts during the two breeding seasons. All nests were in tree cavities and averaged 13.8 t 2,0 m (SE) above the ground in trees averaging 22.8 a 0.8 m (SE) in height (N: 5 nests). Egg laying took place from mid-September to the first week of October. The modal clutch size was 4 -l 0.9 (N: 6 nests, range &-5 eggs). The incubation period averaged 28 d, rarying from 27-29 d (N = 5 nests). Hatching occurred from the middle of October to the first week of November with young fledging in late No- vember Of 24 eggs laid in six ness, 13 (54Va) hatched, and seven (54%) of those hatchlings fledged; thus, a total of 1.2 young fledged per breeding attempt were produced and overall nest success was 50%. The Madagascar Kestrel diet of 338 identified prey was composed, of 93.8Va lizards (N = 317), 2.6% insects (N = 9), 2.+% arnphibians (N = 8), and 1.?% birds (N = 4). IGy WoRDs: Madagascar K$trelt Falco newtoni; nating biologlr,food, habits:, n.stsi lnoductiuit . BIOLOGIA REPRODUCTTVA Y HABITOS AIIMENTICIOS DE FALCO NTI'TONI EN EL NORESTE DE MADAGASC.{R RESUMEN.-Estudiamos individuos de la especie Falco nttotoni en la peninsula Masoala en el noreste de Madagascar durante las estaciones reproductivas de 1997 y 1998. Localizamos cinco nidos y observamos ocho intentos de nidificaci6n durante los dos periodos reproductivos. Todos los nidos se encontraron en cavidades en 6rboles a una altura promedio de 13.8 a 2.0 m (EE) sobre el suelo y en irboles con una altura promedio de 22.8 :t 0.8 m (EE) (N = 5 nidos). La puesta de huevos ocurri6 desde mediados de septiembre hasta la primera semana de octubre, El tamaiio modal de la nidada fue de 4 t 0.9 huevos (N: 6 nidos, rango 3-5 huevos). El periodo promedio de incubaci6n fue de 28 dias, rariando entre 27-29 dias (N = 5 nidos). La eclosi6n ocurri6 desde mediados de octubre hasta la primera semana de noviembre y el abandono del nido por parte de los polluelos ocurri6 a fines de noviembre. De los 24 huevos puestos en seis nidos, tZ (54Va) eclosionaron, y siete (54Vo) de los polluelos que eclosionaron abandonaron el nido. Por lo tanto, se produjeron un total de 1.2 juveniles que abandonaron el nido por intento de nidificaci6n, y el 6xito de nidificaci6n general fue del 50%. La dieta de F netutoni,basada en 338 presas identificada"s, estuvo compuesta en un 93.87o por lagartljas (N: 317), en un 2.6% por insectos (N = 9), en un 2.4Va por anfibios (N = 8) y en un |.ZVa por aves (N = 4)- ITraducci6n del equipo editorial] Madagascar has three resident species of falcons: most common raptor in Madagascar (Siegfried and .. Madagascar Kestrel (Falrc naotoni nantunA, Bar,ded Frost 1970), detailed information on its biology Kestrel (.R zoni entris), and Peregrine Falcon (F pe- and natural history are lacking (I-angrand and regrinus radama), and two wintering species, Eleo- Meyburg 1984, Langrand 1990). This species is nora's Falcon (E eleonorae)and Sooty Falcon (.8 widely distributed throughout Madagascar and is concokn). Although the Madagascar Kestrel is the found in open grasslands, sa nnah habitat, de- graded forests, and in the vicinig' of villages and towns. This falcon has two distinctive color I Email address: [email protected] morphs: pale and rufous (Siegfried and Frost 1970, r49 r5t, RENE DE Role.No rr ar. VoL. 39, No. 2 Cade 1982, Langrand 1990). In this paper, we re- sions,nest depth, and internest distance)were measured port basic information on the breeding biology after the young had fledged. and food habits of the Madagascar Kestrel. RESULTS STUDYAREA AN'D METHoDS One pair of Madagascar Kestrels was trapped This study was conducted within the secondary habitat and marked during this study. The adult female and cultivated terrain surrounding Ambanizana Village measuremenm were wing chord, 200 mm; tail (49'57'E, 15"37'5), situated at the western boundary of length, 129 mm; tarsus length, 38.2 mm; and body the Masoala National Park (MNP; Robenarimangason 1999). mass, 122 g. The adult male measurements were Most of the peripheral zones of the MNP, are com- wing chord, 195 mm; tail length, I10.5 mm; tarsus posed of degraded forest, secondary forest, and fallow length, 37.0 mm; and body mass, 110 g. land intermixed with cultivated areas (croos include Five nesting attempts were observed during the cloves,coffee, vanil)a, and banands). The MNP iuelfcon- first season, 1997-98, and three were documented sists of 230 000 ha of primary forest with a typical canopy height of 25 m and with some emergent trees exceeding during the second field session, 1998-99. Of the 30 m (Guillaumet 1984). The forested terrain is moun- five nesting pairs observed during the two breed- tainous, and lacks roads and a trail system. The altitude ing seasons, three pairs were composed of a pale- in the park ranges from sea level to 1230 m (Nicoll and morph male and a rufous-morph female, one pair Langrand 1989). The current study was undertaken in was of a rufous-morph the lower altitude and cultivated areas ranging from sea male paired with a pale- level to 200 m above sea level. The annual mean rainfall morph female, and one pair included both rufous- at Andranobe Field Station, 7 km south of the study site, morph individuals. is 6049 mm (Thorstrom et al. 1997). The dry season is Nest Characteristics. During this study, all nests from October to mid-December (Rene de Roland 2000). observed for Madagascar Kestrels were placed in The climate is mild and the annual mean temDerature varies trom l8-31'C, natural-tree cavities, with a decayed wood substrate, The study period was from September 1997-January in secondary and human-modified habitat. The 1998 and September 1998-January 1999, which coincides trees identified for nesting were mandrorofo ( ?ra- with the kestrel's breeding season. During September chylnbium rerrucosum) , h\ntnia (Afzelia bijuga) ,lalona and October, we searched for nesting pairs by following (Wdnmnnia vocalizing and flying adults. Observations were made at sp.), and dead unidentified snags. + least 50 m from nests, and five and three nests were mon- Madagascar Kesffel nests averaged 13.8 4.5 m (N -f itored during the 1997 and 1998 breeding seasons, re- : 5) above the ground in trees averaging 22.8 spechvelv, 1.9 m (N = 5) in height. Nest cavities were oval- Nests were observed from courtship up to post-fledg- -f shaped and measured 61 55.1 cm (N: 2) by ling period, and 521 hr 22 min of observation were com- -f (N: pleted. We recorded copulation frequency (per hr and 33.5 16.2 cm 2) with an interior depth of d) and duration (sec), clutch size (number), incubation 22.5 t 3.5 cm (N: 2). The distance between two period (d), nest attendance (percent of observation neighboring nests averaged 675 -r 386.2 m (N: time), disperszLl of young (d), and productiviq'. Egg di- 4, range 300-1200 m). mensions (length and breadth), and egg and nesding Nesting Biology. Courtship activity involved vo- mass were measured using vernier calipers (with 0.01 mm of precision) and Pesola spring-balance scales (0.I g pre- calizations, nest site visits with food deliveries to cision), respectively. Daily nest observations were made the female, and copulations. The courtship period from 0600-1800 H with lOX binoculars and a zoom soot- was marked by flights (e.g., in open areas and over ting scope.While making obser\ation\at ncstsprey il;ms trees) and accompanied by moderate fluttering of were identilied during prey delireries. Kestrels were trapped with a bal-chatri, a noose carpet wings. During periods of inactivity, the kestrel pair "wire fixed over the nest entrance, or a hoop trap" (Ber- perched together in the top of dead branches of ger and Mueller 1959, Thorstrom 1996). Morphometric trees. Courtship behavior, either flights or periods " measurements taken were: wing chord (mm), tail and of inactivity, was associated with loud c lls itsi.,kit- tarsi length (mm), and body mass (g). One breeding pair si, kitsi, ki.tsi." During this period, the male's pri- of adult kestrels was radiotagged to estimate their rang- ing area. The kestrels were radio-tracked from October- mary role seemed to be showing the female poten- December 1998 by homing on foot, and locational fixes tial nesting sites. were recorded using an Eagle Explorer Global Position Copulations usually occurred after prey deliver- System (GPS; Eagle Electronics, Catoosa, OKU.S.A.) with ies from the male to the female. Copulations oc- 30-m of accuracy. The home range was estimated by the curred on the top of dead branches. During cop- minimum convex polygon (MCP) of the locations using " Ranges IV software (Kenward 1990). Several nest site pa- ulations, the male emitted a iiitsi., kitsi, kitsi, rameters (i.e., nest height, nest tree height, nest dimen- hitsi.