Can photography be employed to analyze the diet of the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni Fleischere 1818)?
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Date
2025-12-10
Journal Title
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Publisher
Plovdiv University Press "Paisii Hilendarski"
Abstract
Understanding the dietary composition of the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is crucial for effective conservation, particularly in regions such as Bulgaria, where the species has recently been reintroduced. This study examines the feasibility of photography and videography as noninvasive methods for dietary analysis of this small colonial falcon. A total of 275 photographs and videos depicting feeding behavior were reviewed, 85 from Bulgaria and 190 from Türkiye. Prey items were identified and classified into major taxonomic categories. In both countries, insects dominated the diet (44.71% in Bulgaria, 52.11% in Türkiye), with Orthoptera being the most frequently consumed group (>90% of insect prey). Additional prey included small mammals, reptiles, millipedes, and birds, with notable regional differences in their proportions. The findings closely align with previous indirect studies (e.g., pellet analysis), validating the effectiveness of photographic methods. The study demonstrates that photography represents a valuable complementary tool for studying the diet of Lesser Kestrels, offering minimal disturbance and potential for citizen science applications. This approach enables large-scale data collection and supports long-term ecological monitoring and conservation management of the Lesser Kestrel in Bulgaria
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Keywords
prey, Lesser Kestrel, non-invasive method, Bulgaria, Türkiye