ASPECTS OF THE FEEDING AND BREEDING BIOLOGY OF THE GIANT KINGFISHER
- 1 September 1979
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Ostrich
- Vol. 50 (3) , 176-181
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00306525.1979.9634107
Abstract
Giant kingfishers, M. maxima, were studied during 1972-1975 on the Eerste and Blaauwklip Rivers near Stellenbosch (33.degree.53''S; 18.degree.50''E), South Africa. Nest record cards of the Southern African Ornithological Society were examined for dimensions of the nest, nest living, clutch-size and brood-size. The feeding rate of nestlings was determined from observations at the nest. Two adults, comprising a pair of breeding birds, and a fledgling were equipped with breast-mounted miniature radio transmitter packages to monitor the birds'' activity and home range. Cape River crabs Potamon perlatus apparently were the main prey of the kingfishers. A correlation was found between the activity patterns of kingfishers and of crabs, which peaked in the mornings and evenings.This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit:
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