Learning and hunting success of burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) during pre-release live-prey training in the Manitoba burrowing owl recovery program

Authors

  • Heather Anholt Assiniboine Park Zoo http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2074-0797
  • Alexandra Froese Manitoba Burrowing Owl Recovery Program
  • Charlene Berkvens Assiniboine Park Zoo
  • Chris Enright Assiniboine Park Zoo
  • Stephen Petersen Assiniboine Park Zoo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v8i2.454

Keywords:

burrowing owl, reintroduction biology, live-prey, conservation, training, animal behaviour

Abstract

Reintroduction biology is a new and expanding discipline for which experimental study is critical to progress. We evaluated training methods for live-prey capture as part of a breeding and reintroduction project for the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), an iconic prairie species endangered throughout Canada. Handling of owls prior to training sessions had a negative effect on the proportion of mice depredated. Owl experience exerted a measurable effect on depredation, suggesting that there is a learned component to hunting behaviour; however, this effect was not statistically significant. Overall, the proportion of mice depredated was low, probably because the training session environment presented additional challenges to the owls that would not occur in nature. In response to these findings, changes were made to training protocols the following year and, anecdotally, these changes resulted in a marked increase in the proportion of mice depredated. Mouse colour and owl sex had no effect on depredation.

Author Biographies

Alexandra Froese, Manitoba Burrowing Owl Recovery Program

Program Director

Charlene Berkvens, Assiniboine Park Zoo

Associate Veterinarian

Chris Enright, Assiniboine Park Zoo

Director of Veterinary Services

Stephen Petersen, Assiniboine Park Zoo

Director of Conservation and Research

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Published

30-04-2020

How to Cite

Anholt, H., Froese, A., Berkvens, C., Enright, C., & Petersen, S. (2020). Learning and hunting success of burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) during pre-release live-prey training in the Manitoba burrowing owl recovery program. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 8(2), 107–113. https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v8i2.454

Issue

Section

Original Research Article

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