Chick food analysis of some Korean birds (II)

Abstract

Observations were made on the feeding habits of nestings of ten species, Lanius tigrinus, Butorides striatus amurensis, Emberiza f. fucata, Motacilla alba leucopsis, Oriolus chinensis diffusus, Accipiter nisus nisosimilis, Microscelis amaurotis hensoni, Garrulus glandarius brandtii, Accipiter soloensis and Cyanopica cyanus koreensis. The investigation was made in Kwangnung experimental forest, Kyunggi-do and the nearby open field by using collar method.Accipiter nisus nisosimilis, Microscelis amaurotis hensoni, Garrulus glandarius brandtii and Cyanopica cyanus koreensis are permanent residents and the other six species are common summer residents. The following is the food that these nestlings consumed:1. Lanius tigrinusThe food they consumed was animal matter composed of; insect larvae-41.5%, insect adults-49.4%, spiders-7.69%, frogs-1.53%. The cicada, Gampsocleis ussuriensis made up 33.8% of the insect larvae. The cricket, Platypleura kaempferi made up 35.4% of the adult insects. Only one species of spiders, Clubiona jucunda was seen, 7.69% of the food.2. Butorides striatus amurensisThe food was animal matters composed of; small freshwater fishes-48.57%, Ranidae-45.71%, others-5.71%. Twenty percent of the small freshwater fishes was Zacco platypus while Hemibarbuo logirostris made up 14.28%. Among Amphibians, Rana n. nigromaculata included 22.8%.3. Emberiza f. fucataThe food was animal matter; insect larvae-63.3%, adult insects-25.64%, others-12.78%. Since 48.1% of the food items was larvae of Pieris rapae, it is most useful for agriculture.4. Motacilla alba leucopsisThe food during their nesting period was animal matter composed of; insect larvae-30.5%, adult insects-55.4%, spiders-13.9%. The commonest insect larvae were Odonata indet-22.2%. The commonest adult insects were Syrphidae indet-16.6%. Of the spiders Lycosa sp. made up 12.1% and Lycosa astrigera 2.8%.5. Oriolus chinensis diffususThe food was animal matter composed of; insect larvae-62.36%, adult insects-20.17%, others-17.42%. It should be noted that from the initial time of its feeding until leaving its nest it consumed Dendrolimus spectabilis, a noxious forest insect which made up 45.08% of the diet. Thus it is very useful birds eliminating noxious forest insects.6. Accipiter nisus nisosimilisThe food was animal matter composed of; small passerine birds-87.5%, Ranidae-12.05%. It consumed such forest birds as Paridae.7. Microscelis amaurotis hensoniThe food was primarily insect adults: insect adults-79.65%, Mollusca-12.15%, vegetable matter-4.05%, insect larvae-2.70%, Araneina-1.35%. Homoptera was 43.35% of adult insects.8. Garrlus glandarius brandtiiThe food during its nesting period was solely animal matter; insect larvae-38.80%, adult insects-28.90%, Aranenina-24.87%, adult Amphibia-15.49%. Right after hatching and until leaving its nest, Dendrolimus spectabilis-35.08%, Araneina-24.87%, Clubione jucunda-6.43% were fed. Therefore 73.48% of the total food was noxious forestry insects.9. Accipiter soloensisThe food during the whole feeding period was primarily Rana n. nigromaculata-89.09%, but small quantity of Platypleura kaempferi-8.26%, was also fed.10. Cyanopica cyanus koreensisThe food was composed of; insect larvae-6.11%, adult insects-60.55%, Hyla arborea japonica-12.22%, vegetable matter-1.11%, Gampsocleis ussuriensis-23.39%, Platypleura kaempferi-15.55%, and Hyla arborea japonica-12.22% were the prefered food supplied during the whole feeding period.