Monitoring of facultative avian scavengers on large mammal carcasses in Dinaric forest of Slovenia

Krofel, Miha (author)

Facultative vertebrate scavengers have an important role in forest ecosystems,however, not much is known as to their use of carrion in temperate forests. 1hree carcasses of Red Deer Cervus elaphus and European Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus found dead or killed by Grey Wolf Canis lupus we re monitored in March and April 2010 and 2011 on Menisija Plate au in northern Dinaric Mountains (central Slovenia) using photo-trapping and video surveillance. Carcasses were monitored for 26 days, during which 708 photos and 43 video recordings of scavengers we re taken. In the 91% of all visits recorded, birds we re the most frequent scavengers, with Common Buzzard Buteo buteo as the most frequent species present at 76% of all visits. On average, Buzzards returned to carcasses twice per day, with an average visit lasting 29min. Common Buzzards used carcasses to a significantly higher degree on dayswith snow cover, which was due to the more frequent visits per day and notto longer visits. Recorded antagonistic interspecific interactions suggested that Common Buzzards were the dominant species in the observed avianscavenger guild, as they displaced Ravens Corvus corax and Goshawk Accipiter gentilis from the carcass. However, Ravens frequently mobbed Common Buzzards while scavenging. Once an Ural Owl Strix uralensis also visited prey remains of Grey Wolf, but feeding could not be confirmed. Observations suggested that carcasses of large mammals could be locally and temporarily an important food source for some facultative avian scavengers in Dinaric forests, especially in times when other food is scarce. Data from the two wolfkills also confirm the importance of predation by large carnivores in providing food for scavengers. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters)

• Language: English
• Keywords: mrhovina, mrhovinarji, prehranjevanje, ptice
• Work type: Not categorized
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Year: 2011
• Number of pages: Str. 45-51
• Numbering: Letn. 32, št. 148/149
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-74964
• UDC: 591.531.4:598.2
• ISSN on article: 0351-2851
• COBISS.SI-ID: 29978073
• Publication date in RUL: 21.12.2015

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Acrocephalus
• Shortened title: Acrocephalus
• Publisher: Društvo za opazovanje in proučevanje ptic Slovenije
• ISSN: 0351-2851
• COBISS.SI-ID: 7679234

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Spremljanje priložnostnih ptičjih mrhovinarjev na truplih velikih sesalcev v dinarskem gozdu Slovenije