lMalays. Appl. Biol. (June 2003) 32(1): 45-49
RANGING BEHAVIOUR OF TYTO ALBA IN A RICEFIELD USING RADIO TELEMETRY
HAFIDZI, M.N., HAMZAH, M.H. and JAMALUDDIN, M.L.
Dept of Plant Protection, Faculty Agriculture, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
A radio telemetry study was conducted on the barn owl, Tyto alba in the ricefield area of Sungai Burung in the district of Kuala Selangor, Malaysia. Radio tracking data were obtained from four females and only one male. The home range sizes of females based on the 95% Mean harmonic calculations were 0.60, 0.70, 1.98 and 2.85 hectares. The home range size of the single male was 5.70 hectares. The smaller home range size in ricefield compared to another study in oil palm may reflect the greater abundance of rats in the former The core area sizes of the females based on the 50% Mean Harmonic calculations were 0.20, 0.11, 0.33 and 0.25 hectares. The core area sizes of the females constituted from 8.9 to 34.2% of the calculated home ranges. Two pairs of breeding females whom nest boxes were in close vicinity showed mutually exclusive home ranges and core ranges. This indicate breeding females may avoid one another or exhibit some form of territorial behaviour.
ABSTRAK
Satu kajian radio telemetri telah dijalankan ke atas burung pungguk jelapang Tyto alba di kawasan sawah padi Sungai Burung di daerah Kuala Selangor, Malaysia. Data radio trekking telah diperolehi dari empat burung betina dan hanya seekor burung jantan. Luas banjaran kediaman burung betina berdasarkan kepada pengiraan Min Harmonik 95% ialah 0.60, 0.70, 1.98 dan 2.85 hektar. Luas banjaran kediaman seekor burung jantan tersebut ialah 5.70 hektar. Luas banjaran kediaman yang lebih kecil di sawah padi berbanding sebuah kajian di kawasan kelapa sawit mungkin menunjukkan bilangan tikus yang lebih banyak di sawah padi. Luas kawasan ters bagi burung betina berdasarkan pengiraan Min Harmonik 50% ialah 0.20, 0.11, 0.33 dan 0.25 hektar. Luas kawasan teras ini mewakili di antara 8.9 sehingga 34.2% dari luas banjaran kediaman yang dikira. Dua pasang burung betina yang sedang membiak dan menduduki kotak sarang yang berhampiran menunjukkan banjaran kediaman dan kawasan teras yang tidak bertindan. Ini menunjukkan burung betina yang sedang membiak mungkin mengelak di antara satu sama lain atau mempamirkan satu bentuk lakuan kewilayahan.
Key words: Tyto alba, home range, territorial behaviour, ricefield rat, radio telemetry
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