Ecology and behaviour Laughing owl
juvenile s. a. albifacies photographed around 1909
the owls diet reflected communities of small animals in area, taking prions (small seabirds) lived near colonies, coenocorypha snipe, kākāriki , large earthworms. once pacific rats introduced new zealand , began reduce number of native prey items laughing owl able switch eating them instead. still therefore relatively common when european settlers arrived. being quite large, able deal introduced european rats had caused extinction of of prey; however, stoats introduced control feral rabbits, , feral cats species.
individuals of bird louse of genus strigiphilus found parasitize laughing owls (pilgrim & palma, 1982).
reproduction
breeding began in september or october. nests lined dried grass , on bare ground, in rocky ledges, fissures or under boulders. 2 white, roundish eggs laid, measuring 44-51 x 38–43 mm (1.7-2 x 1.5-1.7 ). incubation took 25 days, male feeding female on nest.
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