Has the peregrine falcon’s diet also changed in the Covid lockdown?

Has the peregrine falcon’s diet also changed in the Covid lockdown?


During this, only the food of man did not change. In a recent study, we found that London’s peregrine falcons also changed their diet during the lockdown. There are over 30 pairs of peregrine falcons in London that can breed.

Many people felt that their eating habits have changed during the lockdown to prevent Covid-19. Some people ate little by little or experimented with healthy food, while others ordered food from outside more and more. During this, only the food of man did not change. In a recent study, we found that London’s peregrine falcons also changed their diet during the lockdown. There are over 30 pairs of peregrine falcons in London that can breed.

Scientists can use high-definition web cameras to record every moment of what birds are feeding their young. Our team of 50 citizen scientists analyzed live streams of peregrine nests in 27 UK cities to find out what the birds were eating. We monitored nests during the breeding season of the bird from 2020 to 22 and we could see how their diet changed during and after the lockdown.

Peregrine birds consumed a lower proportion (-15 per cent) of feral pigeons during the lockdown in London. Instead, they preyed on more hungry (+7 percent) and scarred parrots relatively (+3 percent). Peregrine falcons depend mostly on birds such as pigeons for food. But since pigeons themselves are dependent on humans, the change in human activities also affected the diet of peregrine falcon.

Pigeons – the descendants of the rock dove – have made our cities their home. In highly urbanized cities, humans intentionally and otherwise support feral pigeons through the production of litter and food waste. These pigeons are now present in such large numbers throughout London that feeding them has been banned in particular places, including Trafalgar Square.

Around 13 million pigeons are released into the wild every year in the UK. Some of them come to our cities. Birds of prey later capture 8 percent of these pigeons. Nevertheless, the importance of pigeons involved in flight play in the urban peregrine’s diet remains uncertain. When pandemic restrictions were imposed, the sport of pigeon flying was suspended and these birds were confined to their lofts.

Feeding opportunities for feral pigeons were also reduced in urban areas as people were advised to stay indoors. This forced the hungry pigeons to disperse in search of alternative food sources, meaning that fewer pigeons were present for the peregrine to eat. The broad geographical coverage of our study also showed that the effects of social restrictions on the peregrine’s diet were uneven across Britain. London was the only city in the study where the proportion of pigeons killed fell significantly.

Large flocks of pigeons are attracted to humans in parks or raid garbage cans for food. We take these daily activities for granted. But pigeons contribute to the success of raptors such as the peregrine falcon. Pest control programs around the world have also had an impact on pigeons. Countries such as Singapore and Switzerland have taken the approach of pigeon management by targeting their human food sources. These measures are often implemented to improve public sanitation and health. Research has shown that pigeons and their faeces can transmit diseases such as ornithosis and paramyxovirus to humans.

Disclaimer:IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.





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