A comparative study of the diet of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin, 1831) from two distinct habitats in the Tamil Nadu - Puducherry area, southern India

Main Article Content

M. Eric Ramanujam
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0877-541X
Tushita Singh
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4199-7305
Tushita Singh
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4199-7305

Abstract

A total of 166 prey items were identified from pellets, pellet remains and prey remains – 84 from Arunachala Hill and 82 from Pondicherry University campus. The total biomass encountered from pellet and prey remains was 22,620.17g – 11,240.59g from Arunachala and 11,379.58g from Pondicherry University. Out of the 166 prey items 102 were non-volant small mammals accounting for a biomass of 13,973.90g – 5,616.83g (49.94%) from Arunachala and 8,357.07g (73.42%) from Pondicherry University. Even among these murid rodents dominated – 44.99% in Arunachala and 70.13% in Pondy University. Milvus migrans were predated upon by Bubo bengalensis and 10 partly eaten carcasses were recovered – hence they could not be assigned a category as the quantity consumed could not be determined. It is a well known fact that Eagle Owls are intolerant to other avian predators, and territorial behaviour and intraguild aggression / predation could be responsible for this phenomenon. 3 other partly consumed remains of birds were also encountered and these too could not be assigned a category for the same reason that the quantity ingested could not be determined. Anurans occurred for a combined biomass of 12.87% in both areas. The rest, viz. Coleoptera, Orthoptera and Paratelphusa sp. accounted for a paltry biomass of 0.51%. The difference between murid rodents occurring in the two habitats was illuminating. In Arunachala the constant food of the owls were the field rodents Millardia meltada (15.47%), Bandicota bengalensis (8.74%) and Tatera indica (11.65%), and a single Bandicota indica (6.07%) which is a species found around rural habitations. The first two species were conspicuous by their absence in Pondicherry University and the Tatera indica was encountered in very small quantities (3.70%). Uniquely enough, the terrestrial and fossorial forms of urban rodents formed the basic food of Bubo bengalensis in Pondicherry University – Rattus rattus (20.64%) and Bandicota indica (43.94%). Both these species are human commensals and occur in pestilential proportions in urban habitats. The specific identity of Mus spp. could not be derived due to the complexity of identification, but as our specimens are housed in the repository of WILD molecular analysis could shed light on the species complex in the near future. We have compared non-volant small mammal prey of the regions we studied with those of Maharastra and the results are discussed.

Article Details

Section
Articles
Author Biographies

M. Eric Ramanujam, Pitchandikulam Bioresource Centre / Pitchandikulam Forest Consultants, Auroville, Tamil Nadu 605101, India

M. Eric Ramanujam has been a wildlife illustrator for over two decades and has a background in the advertising industry. Since 1997 he has been involved in full time conservation and has been part of a team which undertook surveys of the Kaliveli region near Puducherry, Eastern Ghats and Adyar wetland complex in Chennai. His main sphere of interest is the natural history of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis. 

Tushita Singh

Tushita Singh was employed to study rodent population dynamics in agroecosystems, ravines and sacred groves. She has a Masters in Ecology & Environmental Sciences from Department of Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University.

Tushita Singh

Tushita Singh was employed to study rodent population dynamics in agroecosystems, ravines and sacred groves. She has a Masters in Ecology & Environmental Sciences from Department of Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University.

References

Agrawal, V.C. (1967). Taxonomic study of the skulls of Oriental rodents in relation to ecology. Records of the Indian Museum 60: 125 – 326.

Allan, T.A. (1977). Winter food of the snowy owl in northwestern lower Michigan. Jack Pine Warbler 55: 42.

Allen, D. (1995). The diet of the Cape Eagle Owl. Journal of African Raptor Biology 10: 12–27.

Barnett, S.A. & I. Prakash (1975). Rodents of Economic Importance. Arnold Heinmann, New York, 175pp.

Blondel, J. & O. Badan (1976). La biologie du Hibou grand-duc en Provence. Alauda 47: 271–275.

Boxall, P.C. & M.R. Lein (1982). Feeding Ecology of Snowy Owls (Nyctea scandiaca) Wintering in Southern Alberta. Arctic 35: 282–290.

Brooke, R.K. (1973). Notes on the distribution and food of the Cape Eagle Owl in Rhodesia. Ostrich 44: 137–139;

http://doi.org/10.1080/00306525.1973.9632627

Brown, L.H. (1965). Observations on Verreaux’s Eagle Owl Bubo lacteus (Temminck) in Kenya. Journal of the East African Natural History Society 25: 101–107.

Carpentier, C.J. (1934). Le pluri-reject quotidian de pelotes par Bubo bubo ascalaphus. Osieaux 4: 353–355.

Choate, J.R. (1971). Notes on geographic distribution and habitats of mammals eaten by owls in southern New England. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Sciences 74: 212–216.

Choussy, D. (1971). Etude d’une population de grand-ducs Bubo bubo dans le Massif Central. Nois Oiseaux 31: 37–56.

Cui, Q., J. Su & Z. Jiang (2008). Summer diet of two sympatric species of raptors Upland Buzzard (Buteo hemilasius) and Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) in alpine meadow: problem of coexistence. Polish Journal of Ecology 56: 173–179.

Demeter, A. (1982). Prey of the Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus in Awash National Park, Ethiopia. Bonner zoologische Beitrage 33: 283–291.

Donazar, J.A. (1987). Geographic variations in the diet of eagle owls in western Mediterranean Europe. Biology and Conservation of Northern Forest Owl: Symposium Proceedings, 220–224pp.

Errington, P.L. (1930). The pellet analysis method of raptor food habits study. Condor 32: 292 – 296.

Errington, P.L. (1932). Technique of raptor food habits study. Condor 34: 75 – 86.

Fall, M.W. (1977). Rodents in Tropical Rice. Technical Bulletin No. 36, Interpretative Programmes Centre, Denver Wildlife Research Centre, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado.

Fischter, E. (1941). The role of owl pellet analysis in faunistics. Nebraska Bird Review 9: 26–30.

Gargett, V. & J.H. Grobler (1976). Prey of the Cape Eagle Owl Bubo capensis mackinderi Sharpe 1899, in the Matopos, Rhodesia. Arnoldia 8: 1–7.

Jaksic, F.B. & C.D. Marti (1984). Comparitive food habits of Bubo owls in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. The Cooper Ornithological Society 86: 288–296.

Kannan, R. (1994). Forest Eagle Owl (Bubo nipalensis Hodgson) – a predator of the Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 91: 454.

Kannan, R. (1998). Avifauna of the Anaimalai Hills (Western Ghats) of southern India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 95: 199.

Kimya, K., S. Satoshi & U. Teruaki (1989). Growth and development of the Black-eared Kite Milvus migrans lineatus. Japanese Journal of Ornithology 38: 31–42; http://doi.org/10.3838/jjo.38.31

Konig, C. & F. Weick (2010). Owls of the World. Christopher Helm Publishers, an imprint of A & C Black Publishers Ltd., London, 528pp.

Kumar, T.S. (1985). The Life History of the Spotted Owlet (Athene brama brama, Temminck) in Andhra Pradesh. Monograph of the Raptor Research Centre, Hyderabad, 241pp.

Llinas-Gutieerrez, J., G. Arnaud & M. Acevedo (1991). Food habits of the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) in the Cape Region of Lower California, Mexico. Journal of Raptor Research 25: 140–141.

Mani, M. (1990). General Entomology. Oxford & IBH Publishing, New Delhi, 912pp.

Mahmood-ul-Hassan, M., M.A. Beg & M. Mustaq-ul-Hassan (2007). Locality related changes in the diet of the Barn Owl (Tyto alba stertens) in agrosystems in Central Punjab, Pakistan. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 119: 479–483.

Marchesi, L. & P. Pedrini (2002). Biases associated with diet study methods in the Eurasian Eagle Owl. Journal of Raptor Research 36: 11–16.

Marshall, J.T. Jr. (1977). A synopsis of Asian species of Mus (Rodentia, Muridae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 158: 173–220.

Marshall, J.T. Jr. (1986). Systematics of the Genus Mus. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology 127: 12–18; http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71304-0_2

Martinez, J.A. (2003). Predictive models of habitat preference for the Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo: a multiscale approach. Ecography 26(1): 21–28.

Medelson, J.M. (1989). Habitat preferences, population size, food and breeding of six owl species in the Springbok Flats, South Africa. Ostrich 60(4): 183–190; http://doi.org/10.1080/00306525.1989.9633755

Mikkola, H. (1976). Owls killing and killed by other owls and raptors in Europe. British Birds 69: 144–154.

Mikkola, H. (2012). Owls of the World - A Photographic Guide. Christopher Helm, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, London, 512pp.

Mysterud, I. & H. Dunker (1982). Food and nesting ecology of the Eagle Owl Bubo bubo (L.) in four neighbouring territories in southern Norway. Swedish Sportsmen’s Ass. Swedish Wildlife Research (Viltrevy), 12pp.

Nel, J.A.J. (1969). The prey of owls of the Namib Desert, 1. The Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus. Scientific Papers Namib Desert Research Station 43: 55–58.

Obuch, J. (2014). Spatial Diversity in the Diet of the Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo in Iran. Podoces 9: 7–21.

Orsini, P. (1985). Le regime alimentaire du Hibou grand-duc Bubo bubo en Provence. Alauda 53: 11–28.

Pande, S. & N. Dahanukar (2011). The diet of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis and its agronomic significance. Journal of Threatened Taxa 3(8): 2011–2017; http://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2536.2011-7

Pande, S., A. Pawashe, M. Mahajan, A. Mahabal, C. Joglekar & R. Yosef (2011). Breeding biology, nesting habitat and diet of the Rock Eagle Owl (Bubo bengalensis). Journal of Raptor Research 45: 211–219; http://doi.org/10.3356/JRR-10-53.1

Penteriani, V., M. Gillardo & P. Roche (2002). Landscape structure and food supply affect Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) density and breeding performance: a case of intra-population heterogeneity. Journal of Zoology 257: 365–372; http://doi.org/10.1017/S0952836902000961

Potapov, E. & R. Sale (2012). The Snowy Owl. T & AD Poyser, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., London, 304pp.

Prakash, I., P. Singh & A. Saravanan (1995). Ecological Distribution of Small Mammals in the Aravalli Ranges. Proceedings of the Indian National Scientific Academy 61: 137–148.

Ramanujam, M.E. (2004). Methods of analyzing rodent prey of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin) in and around Pondicherry, India. Zoos’ Print Journal 19: 1492–1494; http://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.ZPJ.1117a.1492-4

Ramanujam, M.E. (2006). On the prey of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin, 1831) in and around Pondicherry, southern India. Zoos’ Print Journal 21: 2231–2240; http://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.ZPJ.1425.2231-40

Ramanujam, M.E. (2015). Time budget and behavioural traits of adult and young Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin, 1831) in and around a nesting site: a preliminary report. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(14): 8139–8147+supplement; http://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2429.7.14.8139-8147

Ramanujam, M.E. & B. Verzhutskii (2004). On the prey of the Spotted Owlet Athene brama (Temminck) in a forested ravine in Auroville, Pondicherry. Zoos’ Print Journal 19(10): 1654–1655; http://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.ZPJ.1093a.1654-5

Rasmussen, P.C. & J.C. Anderton (2012). Birds of South Asia – The Ripley Guide. Volume 2: Attributes and Status. Second Edition. National Museum of Natural History - Smithsonian Institution, Michigan State University and Lynx Edicions, Washington D.C., Michigan and Barcelona, 684pp.

Real, J. & S. Manosa (1990). Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) predation on juvenile Bonelli’s Eagles (Hieraaetus fasciatus). Journal of Raptor Research 24: 69–71.

Robinson, M. & C.D. Becker (1986). Snowy Owls on Fetlar. British Birds 79: 228–242.

Rodel, H.G., W.W.A. Scholze & D. Kock (2002). Diet of Mackinder’s eagle owl Bubo capensis mackinderi in the alpine zone of Mount Kenya. African Journal of Ecology 40: 283–288.

Rosenberg, L.V. & R.J. Cooper (1990). Approaches to avian diet analysis. Avian Biology 13: 80–90.

Sergio, F. & A. Boto (1999). Nest dispersion, diet and breeding success of Black Kites (Milvus migrans) in the Italian alps. Journal of Raptor Research 33: 207–217.

Sergio, F. & P. Pedrini (2003). Adaptive selection of foraging and nesting habitat by black kites (Milvus migrans) and its implications for conservation: a multiscale approach. Biological Conservation 112: 351–362; http://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00332-4

Sergio, F., L. Marchesi & P. Pedrini (2003). Spatial refugia and the coexistence of a diurnal raptor with its intraguild owl predator. Journal of Animal Ecology 72: 232–245; http://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2656.2003.00693.x

Sergio, F. & F. Hiraldo (2008). Intraguild predation in raptor assemblages: a review. Ibis 150: 132–145; http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2008.00786.x

Seshadri, K.S. (2013). Lords of the Ravines - the Rock Eagle Owls of Pondicherry. Sanctuary Asia 33: 54–59.

Shehab, A.H. (2004). Diet of the Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo, in Syria. Zoology in

the Middle East 33: 21 – 26.

Shehab, A.H. & M. Ciach (2008). Diet Composition of the Pharaoh Eagle Owl, Bubo ascalaphus, in Azraq Nature Reserve, Jordan. Turkish Journal of Zoology 32: 65–69.

Simeonov, S., B. Milchev & Z. Boev (1998). Study of the Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo L.) (Aves: Strigiformes) in the Strandzha Mountain (southeast Bulgaria). II. Food spectrum and trophic specialization. Acta Zoologica 50: 87–100.

Simmons, R.E., D.M. Avery & G. Avery (1991). Biases in diets determined from pellets and remains: correction factors for a mammal and bird-eating raptor. Journal of Raptor Research 26: 63–67.

Srinivasulu, C. & M.S. Pradhan (2003). Checklist of Murids (Mammalia: Rodentia: Muridae) of South Asia. Zoos’ Print Journal 18(12): 1286–1310; http://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.ZPJ.18.12.1286-310

Srinivasulu, C., B. Srinivasulu, A. Rajesh, C.A.N. Rao & V. Nagulu (2004). Non-volant small mammals of Kasu Bramananda Reddy National Park, Andhra Pradesh. Zoos’ Print Journal 19: 1495–1497; http://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.ZPJ.1088.1495-7

Steyn, P. & N. Myburgh (1983). Prey of the Cape Eagle Owl at Brandvlei, Cape. African Wildlife 37: 127.

Talmale, S.S. & M.S. Pradhan (2009). Identification of small Mammal species through Owl Pellet Analysis. Records of the Zoological Survey of India. Occasional Paper No. 294: 23pp+20pl.

Tella, J.L. & S. Manosa (1993). Eagle Owl predation on Egyptian Vulture and Northern Goshawk: possible effect of decrease in European Rabbit availability. Journal of Raptor Research 27: 111–112.

Trejo, A. & D. Grigera (1998). Food habits of the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) in a Patagonian Steppe in Argentina. Journal of Raptor Research 32: 306–311.

Tumurbat, J., G. Sundev & R. Yosef (2009). Nest site and food composition of the Eagle Owl Bubo bubo in Mongolia. Ardea 97: 419–523; http://doi.org/10.5253/078.097.0417

Vein, D. & M. Thevenot (1978). Etude sur le hibou Grand-Duc Bubo bubo ascalaphus dans le Moyen-Atlas Morocain. Nos Oiseaux 34: 347–351.

Verzhutskii, B. & M.E. Ramanujam (2002). On the prey of the Collared Scops Owl Otus bakkamoena (Pennant) at Auroville, Pondicherry. Zoos’ Print Journal 17(11): 939–940; http://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.ZPJ.17.11.939-40

Viega, J.P. & F. Hiraldo (1990). Food habits and the survival and growth of nestlings in two sympatric kites (Milvus milvus and Milvus migrans). Ecography 13: 62–71.

Villafuerte, R. & J. Vinuela (2006). Size of Rabbits consumed by Black Kites increased after a Rabbit epizootic. Mammal Review 29: 261–264; http://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2907.1999.2940261.x