Habitat composition of Mauritius Kestrel home ranges

Loss of its original native forest habitat has been identified as one cause of the population decline of the Mauritius ICestrel (Falco punctatus). Dur ing the 1988-1989 breeding season we examined the size and habitat composit ion of the home ranges of two pairs of nesting Mauritius Kestrels, one loca ted in a traditional location and the other in a new nest cavity at the edg e of agricultural fields and other non-native vegetation. Kestrel home rang es were determined by radio tracking. Habitat types were identified using o verstory canopies only. Native vegetation composed 12-41% of kestrel home r ange area, with exotic woodland, agricultural land, and scrub composing 15- 40%. Kestrels were observed taking prey from non-native habitats, and both pairs fledged young. These Mauritius Kestrels appear to have adjusted succe ssfully to non-native habitats.