Behaviour of Montagu’s Harrier juveniles during the post-fledging dependency
period in southeast Poland. - I. Kitowski. - Berkut. 11 (2). 2002. - P. 201-207.
The dependency period of 51 fledglings Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus)
was studied on calcareous peat-bogs near Chelm (SE Poland). The juveniles fledged
on average 33,6 days after hatching, and continued to depend on their parents
for 17–31 days (M = 23,6 ± 3,6 days, n = 42). A progression was
observed in the flight behaviour ability of the fledglings: the total time spend
flying each day increased throughout this period, as well as the use of energy
saving flight types. With progressing dependency period the rate of successfully
aerial prey transfers increased. The mortality rate during the dependency period
was 17,6 % (n = 51). [English].
Key words: Montagu’s Harrier, Circus pygargus, Poland, behaviour,
post-fledging dependency period, flight development.
Address: I. Kitowski, Department of Nature Conservation, Maria Curie-Sklodowska
University Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland; e-mail: kitowign@biotop.umcs.lublin.pl.
