Hi Con,
I am curious as to what the first line of that message means. Though I agree with the other lines. The being a predator
is only defined by the relationship to the word prey. On that basis I wonder are you suggesting a comparison of predators to some other group and I am not sure what that other group might be (last of what). Or just that predators are slow to recover(?). True
sometimes or not. For those interested, the phenomenon is referred to as “numerical response”.
…
effects of prey availability on the numerical response of … - Gawlik - Cited by 428
Numerical
response of lizards to aquatic insects and … - Sabo - Cited by 190
Numerical
response of a mammalian specialist … - Mougeot - Cited by 10
For example
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerical_response#:~:text=The%20numerical%20response%20in%20ecology,of%20change%20in%20prey%20density.&text=It%20is%20associated%20with%20the,with%20change%20in%20prey%20density.
Not that I get out that much, but I have not observed
any Kestrels, BsK or other typical mouse predators locally for many months (well into last year), I have seen only one Brown Falcon near Lanyon 3 weeks ago. There has been one recent mention on this list of a Barn Owl. Numbers of all of them are probably
very low locally.
Extensive mouse poisoning could be having an impact on them
if the poisoning is causing secondary poisoning, but surely not be prey reduction, as poisoning is happening only where mice are in huge plagues.
Philip
From: Canberrabirds
[
On Behalf Of Con
Sent: Monday, 17 May, 2021 9:14 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Black-shouldered Kite
Some musings...
Predators are typically last to recover from prolonged periods of low prey.
It is strange to think that only about 16 months ago we were coming out of a major drought that would likely have significantly reduced B-sh K numbers.
Add to that a widespread mouse plague now and they have plenty of options.
That said, on a recent round trip to Tocumwal from Canberra we saw only a couple of Black-shouldered Kites.
It could be that the extensive mouse poisoning is having an impact on them.
regards
Con
On 5/17/2021 8:13 PM, Nicki Taws wrote:
1 Black-shouldered Kite on Coppins Crossing Rd, not far north of the crossing. Surprising there aren’t more around feasting on mice, but perhaps there are so many mice elsewhere
that they don’t need to come to the ACT.
Cheers
Nicki Taws
0408 210736
