FOODS BROUGHT TO THE NEST BY BREEDING KINGFISHERS ALCEDO-ATTHIS IN THE NEW FOREST OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND

Very few studies have addressed the breeding ecology of the Kingfisher , especially in Britain. The fish diet of Kingfishers was studied from 3 watersheds in the New Forest, Hampshire using analysis of regurgita ted prey remains collected from nest tunnels and chambers. Diagnostic bones from each of 5 prey species were selected to identify prey speci es represented in the remains. From reference material, linear dimensi ons of the bone selected for recognition in each prey species were rel ated to fish total length; dietary reconstructions from prey remains c ould thus estimate prey size structure as well as species frequency. O ver 850 bones were recovered from 7 nest sites in which 20 broods were reared during 1989. Minnow was the most frequent prey with smaller nu mbers of the remaining species consumed. The choice of prey species wa s similar across different nest sites at the same watershed and also b etween first and second broods reared at the same nest site. Different fish species were taken at different watersheds, perhaps reflecting l ocal variation in fish population structures. At all nest sires studie d, size of prey appeared to be the main factor determining prey select ion, with Minnows, Bullheads and Trout between 40 mm and 70 mm in tota l length being favoured.