Abstract
Stomach contents of 51 bird species that posed a potential threat to aviation were collected at the Bloemfontein airport over a period of 11 years (1985-1995). Numerically the crowned plover (Vanellus coronatus), and the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), blacksmith plover (V. armatus), whitewinged korhaan (Eupodotis afraoides), doublebanded courser (Smutsornis africanus), spotted dikkop (Burhinus capensis), cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), Swainson’s francolin (Francolinus swainsonii) and Orange River francolin (F. levaillantoides) in sequence of importance, constituted 91,0% of the total sample (3 544). In general insects can be considered the main food source of the birds concerned. Based on dry mass composition the Isoptera, followed by the Coleoptera and Orthoptera, constituted the most important component in the diet. The Isoptera, more specifically the harvester termite (Hodotermes mossambicus), is, moreover, the only important prey taxon showing a conspicuous utilisation peak during the relative food shortage of the dry season. Evidently, temporary superabundant food sources that periodically come about in grassland habitats are opportunistically utilised by the birds.
Highlights
Stomach contents of 51 bird species that posed a potential threat to aviation were collected at the Bloemfontein airport over a period of 11 years (1985-1995)
Die ontleding van maag- en/of kropinhoude is in hierdie verband uiters geskik vir die bepaling van voedingsgewoontes aangesien dit die beste aanduiding verskaf van voedsel wat werklik benut word.[3]
In alle gevalle is die voorkomsfrekwensie van verskillende taksa bereken as die verhouding van die maaginhoud wat ’n spesifieke voedselitem bevat het, uitgedruk as ’n persentasie van die totale aantal mae wat ontleed is
Summary
As deel van ’n voëlbeheerprogram op die Bloemfontein-lughawe word voëls op aanloopbane onmiddellik voor die aankoms of vertrek van geskeduleerde stralervlugte met 12-boor haelgewere deur beamptes van die plaaslike brandweerafdeling geskiet. Laasgenoemde takson word deur 12 ordes verteenwoordig waarvan die Isoptera en Coleoptera, en in ’n mindere mate die Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera en Orthoptera, volgens droë massa sowel as voorkomsfrekwensie die dominante komponente uitmaak. Prooi-items van ander insekte wat tot familievlak of laer geïdentifiseer kon word, sluit die Formicidae, hoofsaaklik die malmier (Anoplolepis custodiens) (Hymenoptera), Asilidae (Diptera), Cicadellidae, Cicadidae en Pentatomidae (Hemiptera), Noctuidae- en Pieridae-larwes (Lepidoptera) en Acrididae, Gryllidae en Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera) in. Kewersoorte van agt families, hoofsaaklik die Curculionidae en Tenebrionidae maar ook die Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, Coccinellidae en Scarabaeidae, is geïdentifiseer, terwyl die Isoptera en Hymenoptera onderskeidelik deur die Hodotermitidae en Formicidae verteenwoordig is. Frekwensiegewys word die Coleoptera, waarvan prooi-items hoofsaaklik van die Curculionidae (62,4%) maar ook van die Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, Cicindelidae, Coccinellidae, Meloidae, Scarabaeidae en Tenebrionidae afkomstig is, meer dikwels as die Isoptera benut. Dierlike materiaal Arachnida (Totaal) Acarina Araneae Solifugae Chilopoda Crustacea Diplopoda Gastropoda Insecta (Totaal) Blattodea Coleoptera Dermaptera Diptera Hemiptera Hymenoptera Isoptera Lepidoptera Mantodea Neuroptera Odonata Orthoptera Phasmatodea Ongeïdentifiseerd Oligochaeta
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