Time Budget and Diet of the Booted Eagles in the Breeding Season in Xinjiang, China

Abstract

During the breeding seasons of 2010-2016, we have found seven nests of the Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) in Xinjiang, the west of China. We used a method of focal sampling and infrared cameras to continually observe behaviors and nestlings’ growth. Nestling behaviors were different between nestling period and post-nestling period. Attendance at the nests by both adults decreased as the nestling aged. The female brooded significantly more than the male did during daylight hours (P=0.016, F= 8.38, df =1). The daily mean number of food items delivered to the nests by adults was 3.2 times/day in nestling period, and 0.96/day in post-nestling period. Seven orders of wild birds, three orders of mammals and domestic poultry were documented as prey.

Keywords

• Booted Eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus, nesting period, brooding stage, nestlings, time budget, diet