Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Bijlsma R.G. (1990) Predation of large falcons on wintering waders on the Banc d'Arguin Mauritania. ARDEA 78 (1-2): 75-82
Predation by large falcons was studied near Iouik on the Banc d'Arguin in Mauritania. During October 1988, three Lanner Falcons Falco biarmicus, two Peregrines F. peregrinus and two Barbary Falcons F. pelegrinoides were present. Hunting areas of species and individuals overlapped without territorial aggression. Hunting activity concentrated around high tide, and was directed at roosting waders. Four hunting methods are described. Hunting success was 18.6% in 43 individual hunting flights with known outcome. The majority of observed attacks involved waders. Among waders, Dunlins were the preferred quarry. Juveniles were more often caught than expected from the age-ratio of a sample of trapped birds (by mist-net and clap-net). In Dunlins caught by all trapping devices combined, juveniles weighed less than adults: 36 g and 42 g respectively. The average mass of four juvenile Dunlins (28.2 g) freshly caught by large falcons, was even less than that.


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