<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The relative frequency of Common Pigeons <italic>Columba livia</italic> in the diet of Peregrine Falcons differed across three areas of south-central Wales in line with racing pigeon availability. Peregrines exhibited a functional response to spatial and temporal availability of racing pigeons. During the pigeon-racing season (April–September), pigeons comprised 63% of kills in South Wales where pigeons were most available, 43% in the Brecon Beacons with intermediate availability and 30% in Central Wales, where availability was lowest. The corresponding values outside the pigeon-racing season were 18%, 6% and 5% respectively. We estimate that 92% of pigeons killed by Peregrines were racing pigeons, 7% were feral pigeons and the remainder were other domestic pigeon varieties.</p></abstract>

The relative frequency of Common Pigeons Columba livia in the diet of Peregrine Falcons differed across three areas of south-central Wales in line with racing pigeon availability. Peregrines exhibited a functional response to spatial and temporal availability of racing pigeons. During the pigeon-racing season (April–September), pigeons comprised 63% of kills in South Wales where pigeons were most available, 43% in the Brecon Beacons with intermediate availability and 30% in Central Wales, where availability was lowest. The corresponding values outside the pigeon-racing season were 18%, 6% and 5% respectively. We estimate that 92% of pigeons killed by Peregrines were racing pigeons, 7% were feral pigeons and the remainder were other domestic pigeon varieties.

Diet of Peregrine Falcons <italic>(Falco peregrinus)</italic> in relation to temporal and spatial variation in racing pigeon availability in Wales

Ornis Hungarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Diet of Peregrine Falcons  in relation to temporal and spatial variation in racing pigeon availability in Wales

The relative frequency of Common Pigeons Columba livia in the diet of Peregrine Falcons differed across three areas of south-central Wales in line with racing...

Diet of Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) in relation to temporal and spatial variation in racing pigeon availability in Wales

Published Online: Feb 14, 2019

Page range: 188 - 200

Received: Oct 30, 2018

Accepted: Dec 21, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/orhu-2018-0028

Keywords
predator-prey, functional response, human-wildlife conflict

© 2018 Andrew Dixon et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Diet of Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) in relation to temporal and spatial variation in racing pigeon availability in Wales

Published Online: Feb 14, 2019

Page range: 188 - 200

Received: Oct 30, 2018

Accepted: Dec 21, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/orhu-2018-0028

Keywordspredator-prey, functional response, human-wildlife conflict

© 2018 Andrew Dixon et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
predator-prey, functional response, human-wildlife conflict