Foraging habits, hunting and breeding success of lanner falcons (Falco biarmicus) in Israel

At Sede Boqer, Negev Desert highlands, 332 capture attempts of birds, mammals and insects by lanner falcons were observed, of which 163 (49.1%) were successful. The falcons also pounced on nine rodents from a perch, or walked on the ground and gathered invertebrates on 27 occasions. A male also hunted bats. Pairs hunted cooperatively during the courtship period prior to egg laying, and also when young accompanied one of the parent on hunting forays. During the fledging period, the male and the female again hunted cooperatively. Overall hatching success for both study pairs during the five pair-years was 95.2% and total fledging success was 78.3%. -from Author