Daily Diet and Temporal Variation of Swainson's Hawk Prey Deliveries

Abstract

ABSTRACT The quantity and timing of prey delivery affect the development of altricial young, can induce trade-offs in parental behavior, and ultimately influence fitness of the young. We investigated the dynamics of prey deliveries in a population of Swainson’s Hawks (Buteo swainsoni) in northern California to better understand its temporal component. We installed 12 motion-triggered cameras in nests between 2013 and 2018, and documented 466 unique prey deliveries. Of those, 455 prey items were identifiable to at least class. Mammals made up the majority of prey in terms of number of deliveries (88.2%) and estimated biomass delivered to the nest (97.1%). Of those, pocket gophers (Thomomys spp.) and voles (Microtus spp.) together made up almost half of the deliveries and biomass. Most prey was delivered to the nest in midday (i.e., 1000–1459 H), suggesting these are important foraging hours for this population. However, afternoon air temperatures in the study area can be high and may require that nestlings be shaded, setting up a potential trade-off between foraging and protecting the nestlings’ thermal homeostasis. Our study provides initial insight into the daily temporal dynamics of prey delivery for one of the latest-breeding raptors in North America.