Competition for Food by Birds of Prey

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Abstract
Analysis is made of food studies by Uttendorfer in Germany of Falconiformes and Strigiformes. No 2 spp., in the same or in different genera, compete for food in the same habitat. However, when the vole, Microtus arvalis, becomes superabundant, as many as 5 non-congeneric species may take it for food in the same habitat without influencing one another. At times when the vole is scarce, each predator perhaps turns to different prey. Gause''s thesis that 2 spp. with the same ecological requirements cannot persist together in the same region is tenable for the behavior of these polyphagous spp. in nature.