Food Preference of the Short-Eared Owl (Asio flammeus) and Barn Owl (Tyto alba) at Usta Muhammad, Baluchistan, Pakistan

Authors : Muhammad MUSHTAQULHASSAN, Rafia Rehana GHAZI, Noorun NISA

Pages : 91-94

View : 21 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The dominant food-items eaten by the short-eared owl were rats and mice insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(91.9%);. Shrews insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2.0%);, bats insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.3%);, and birds insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(5.0%); jointly constituted only 8.2% of the owl`s diet. Among rats and mice, the most intensively consumed rodent pest by the owl was Millardia meltada insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(43.9%);, followed by Mus musculus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(29.8%);, Tatera indica insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(16.3%);, and Bandicota bengalensis insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.8%);. In the case of the barn owl, rats and mice represented 9.7% of their diet, followed by shrews insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(4.7%);, birds insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(3.3%);, and bats insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.4%);. Among the rats and mice in their diet were M. meltada insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(46.3%);, T. indica insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(3.5%);, Nesokia indica insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(5.1%);, B. bengalensis insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2.2%);, Rattus rattus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.1%);, and M. musculus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(33.5%);. Sub-adults of M. meltada were the most intensively eaten food item by the short-eared owl insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(50.8%); and barn owl insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(39.1%);, whereas adults of M. musculus were the dominant prey age-category consumed by the short-eared owl insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(52.2%); and barn owl insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(66.0%);
Keywords : Diet, soft furred field rat, house mouse, barn owl, short eared owl