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La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

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Titre :	Behaviour and diet of a male Capercaillie Tetrao urugallus in the Northern Black Forest
Auteurs :	Patrick Stader, Auteur ; Charly Ebel, Auteur ; Marc I. Foerschler, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Vogelwelt (Die) (134(1, Sp. Iss. SI) 2013)
Article en page(s) :	75-82
Résumé :	The dietary spectrum of wild Capercaillies is in general well known, but until now mostly studied by droppings or by observing birds in captivity. SANIGA (2002) applied another method in the West Carpathians, while he observed four deviant Capercaillies for investigating their diet. During our study about home ranges and movement patterns in the Northern Black Forest (STADER 2012) we had the opportunity to repeat this method, supplemented with an analysis of behaviour. Therefore, we took a closer look at one already tracked male (with aggressive behaviour during mating time). Between April and August 2011 we were able to accompagny the bird, which was out of mating season neither shy nor aggressive, within shirt distance. This unusual behaviour allowed us to study food selection and behaviour of a Capercaillie under natural conditions. In total we found 23 different plant species as components in the diet of the bird. Additionally the Capercaillie was foraging also for Red Wood Ants Formica rufa (2%). Diet was dominated by plants of the heath family (59%, two species: Blueberry Vaccinium myrtillus and Cowberry V vitis-idaea) and the fern species Bracken Pteridium aquilinum (12%). The fact that Pteridium was also used as a food resource when Vaccinium was available, let us suggest that Pteridium forms part of the normal diet of Capercaillies in the Black Forest. Behavioural analyses were based on 12 observation days. Methodologically the registration of diurnal activity was restricted to half of the day, since we could only start following the bird after finding it (the transmitter was only active between 12:00-14:00). Afterwards we were able to follow the bird until it approached the sleeping tree (in average 6.5 hours observation time). During this period the Capercaillie was mostly foraging or resting (75 %). The intake of food increased until the afternoon. Most of the behavioural categories showed a peak at a specific time of the day. For example the dust-bathing was mainly observed at the later midday about five hours before the bird approached its sleeping tree. Interestingly, the observed Capercaillie used dead wood in many ways. In general the bird used the higher position on lying dead wood to observe the surroundings. Additionally it frequented dead wood as well for protection against bad weather (rain, wind) or as a cover for resting, sleeping and cleaning. In some occasions we observed the Capercaillie foraging for ants on parts of the dead wood.

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