22Oct 2017

TIME-OF-DAY BUT NOT SEASONALITY INFLUENCES FEEDING AND DIURNAL TIME ACTIVITY BUDGET OF ADULT RED-CAPPED LARK (Calandrella cinerea).

  • African Conservation Centre (ACC), P.O. Box 15289-00509, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, GPO, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Zoology Department, National Museums of Kenya, P.0.Box 40658-00100, Nairobi Kenya.
  • Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Netherlands.
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Passerines are unusually rich and successful avian species. As a result, the diverse life history traits of tropical passerines that have not been intensively studied offer researchers unique opportunities to fill in existing knowledge gaps on their ecology as well as test the evolutionary and ecological theory. This study assessed the feeding behaviour of the Red-capped Lark in relation to its diurnal time activity. Observations on adult birds were undertaken between March-August 2016 at their natural open grassland habitat (Naivasha, Kenya) during breeding and non-breeding seasons. Findings revealed that there were no significant difference in mean feeding rates (z = 1.59, P = 0.16, df = 484) and search rates (z = 0.6, P = 0.56, df = 484) between seasons. However, time-of-day influenced feeding activities. During the breeding season, mean rates for feeding (F =12.07, p = 0.004, df = 375) and searching for food (F = 6.77, P = 0.0003, df = 375) varied significantly for morning (7.00-9.00 am), mid-morning (9.01-11.00am) and evening (4.00-6.00 pm). Similarly, for non-breeding season, mean rates for feeding (F = 16.24, P = 0.0002, df = 582) and searching for food (F = 4.36, P = 0.005, df = 582) varied significantly for time periods. Future studies will complement findings of this study and provide deeper understanding of its feeding ecology and other grassland birds in order to improve management of their threatened habitats.

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[Mary Mwangi, Robert Chira, Nathan Gichuki and Peter Njoroge (2017); TIME-OF-DAY BUT NOT SEASONALITY INFLUENCES FEEDING AND DIURNAL TIME ACTIVITY BUDGET OF ADULT RED-CAPPED LARK (Calandrella cinerea). Int. J. of Adv. Res. 5 (Oct). 1236-1245] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com

Mary Njeri Mwangi
RESEARCH INTERN, AFRICAN CONSERVATION CENTRE(ACC)

DOI:

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/5642      
DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/5642

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