This study investigated the predatory behaviour of kestrels on insect prey in a modified open-field arena, and assessed the effects of T. pseudospiralis infections on the sequence of predatory behaviours, hunting efficiency and choice of hunting method of the birds. Choice of hunting method in kestrels was related to their appraise energy expenditure and relative success. Hunting from a perch was more common, presumably less strenuous and more successful than hunting afoot. Hunting prey confined to the vertical walls of the arena was considered more strenuous and was less successful than hunting freely-roaming ground prey. Infection with T. pseudospiralis did not affect attack rate or hunting success but altered the manner in which prey were taken. Thus, the frequency of strikes performed in level flight declined, and birds tended to hunt more on foot. In flight, the frequency of wing beats and the horizontal distance travelled to regain the elevated perch increased. Concordance was found between intensity of infection and magnitude of change in body weight and flight activities. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.61185 |
| Date | January 1992 |
| Creators | Bombardier, Manon |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Renewable Resources.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001276617, proquestno: AAIMM74863, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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