PERCH AVAILABILITY AND GROUND COVER - FACTORS THAT MAY CONSTITUTE SUITABLE HUNTING CONDITIONS FOR PALE CHANTING GOSHAWK FAMILIES

We investigated the impact of perch height and abundance, and the cove r for prey, on the hunting tactics of perch-hunting pale chanting gosh awks (Melierax canorus). Although pale chanting goshawks demonstrate a clear preference for perching on the highest available perches, the a vailability of perches is of more importance than height because these birds hunt almost exclusively from perches, move regularly between th em, and an increased number of perches increases the area or habitat a ccessible for effective hunting. in Succulent Karoo, pale chanting gos hawks occupied areas where perch density (16 natural and 122 artificia l/25 ha) was significantly higher than in unoccupied areas (8 natural and 12 artificial/25 ha). The high proportion of cover formed by natur al perches (trees and shrubs; 36%) and the low proportion of open grou nd (42%) resulted in Closed Spekboomveld being unsuitable for pale cha nting goshawks, relative to the adjacent Open Spekboomveld that suppor ted goshawks by offering a less restricted view of the ground and prey (perch cover 18% and open ground 49%). In Karroid Broken Veld, the co mbination of perch availability (3 026/25 ha) and open ground (62%) ma y provide the most suitable conditions for hunting rodent prey near co ver or in the open, We suggest that such habitat may also provide a pa thway, through fitness benefits gained, in the development of delayed dispersal and cooperative breeding in pale chanting goshawk families.