Diet and prey selection by Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in the Cubillas reservoir (south-east Spain)

Full article

Published:

Volume 42(2), December 1995. Pages 133-138.

Language:

Spanish

Original title:

Alimentación y selección de presa por el Aguila Pescadora (Pandion haliaetus) en el embalse del Cubillas (SE de España)

Keywords:

Cyprinus carpio, diet, Osprey, prey selection, SE Spain

Abstract:

The feeding habits of ospreys have been studied in the Cubillas reservoir (SE Spain) during three migratory periods: autumn 1993, spring 1994 and autumn 1994. Feeding perches were sampled, determining the species and number- of fishes eaten by the pieces of skulls, and using opercular bones to estimate size by regression. Fish availability was estimated by control of fishermen and direct counts. The composition of the diet was quite simple, being the result of the low availability of taxons. The main prey is the Carp (Cyprinus carpio), followed by the barbel (Barbus sclateri) and the black bass (Micropterus salmoides). During the first two periods there was no prey selection, but fishing was selective in the third period, when barbels were captured preferentially because they were easy to catch due to the poor conditions of the water. There is a clear selection of size of fishes between 20 and 30 cm, the normal range for ospreys.