HOME-RANGE SIZE AND HABITAT REQUIREMENTS OF PEREGRINE FALCONS ON THE CAPE PENINSULA, SOUTH-AFRICA

Two adult male and two adult female Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinu s) were radiotracked in adjacent territories on the Cape Peninsula, So uth Africa between 1989-94, The falcons were tracked from two fixed st ations over periods of 2-3 wk. The objective of the study was to deter mine the spatial and habitat requirements of peregrines and their rang ing behavior. Male; occupied larger home ranges than females, and fema les were more sedentary; spending over 50% of their rime at the nest c liff. The home ranges of neighboring birds overlapped by about 20%, bu t neighbors tended not to forage in the same area on the same day. Are as with cliffs and ridges were preferred to slopes and flats, but othe r habitat and land-use categories were used randomly.