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Abstract
are The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus rupicolaeformes), a small predatory bird and a natural enemy of different agricultural pests. The kestrels live in open habitats where they feed upon large insects like grasshoppers, lizards, rodents (such as mice and voles). Kestrels also feed on snakes, amphibians, small birds and they almost never feed on carrion. The female laid 4 or 5 cream-colored to reddish-brown, usually sparkled eggs. Eggs are laid at one to two- day intervals. Kestrel eggs hatch after 28 to 31 days of incubation .Females do most of the incubating, while males bring the food to their mate. The results can be summarized as follows: 5-1- Relation between monthly fluctuation abundance of Kestrels and ”Temperature and Relative humidity (R.H) % ” in Ismailia Governorate. Monthly collections of kestrel was done starting from October 2004 up to September 2005 using long-spring traps A survey of kestrel in all study areas in Ismailia Governorate was during twelve months. The monthly fluctuation abundance of Kestrel in Ismailia Governorate were 73.3 % , 66.7 % , 60 % ,46.7 % ,33.3 % and 20 % during 12 months. The population density of kestrels were ascendingly increased from February -05 until Jun -05 then decreased from Jul-o5 until September-05 .The highest population density of Kestrels was 73.3 % during May-05 at 32.5 0c and 85.83 Max R.H % but it was 66.7 % during March , April and June -05 at (24.16 0c ,28.440c and 36.71 0c) and (83.19, 79.1 and 81.96 Max-R.H %) .On the other hand the lowest density of kestrel was 20 % ,33 % and 33.3 % during October ,November and December-04 at (19.29 0c until 30.24 0c ) and (84.41 until 86.1 Max R.H) respectively. from these results it was clear that February, March, April, May, June and July-05 are more preferable months for reproduction of kestrel birds. 5-2- The different measurements of trapped kestrels during twelve months. The Results indicated no significant differences between measurements for all examined kestrels from October 2004 to September 2005.5-3-The relation between the age and different measurements of kestrel babies. A nest included six of kestrel babies has aging 15 days .They were weighed and bred in wire cages. The results showed that wings ,(head and body) and tail were increased rapidly in the tall with the rate of babies age .The wing measurements were 21.83 , 22.00 , 24.08 , 29.41 , 32.83 , 36.66,48.08 and 58.00 cm at 15, 20 , 25 , 30 , 35 , 40, 45 and 50 days of kestrel age respectively. The growing rate of tibia, claws, digits and beak were very slow because the babies depend on their parents for feeding .Weight of kestrel babies has ascending increase in weight with their ages. 5-4- Kestrel stomach contents under filed conditions. The stomach contents of all birds (males and females) were preserved in 70% alcohol in separate remarked small vials referring to the date and area of collection. The collected part from the stomach contents were divided and identified into different groups small mammals , insects , small birds and other organisms and the number in each group was recorded by using research microscope and binuclear. The results showed that Kestrel stomach contents indicated that insects are more preferable food for Kestrel during August-05 (81.42 % ), July -05 (58.14 % ), April-05 (51.36 %),October-04 (51.1 %) , June -05 (44.07 % ), March -05(43.58 %) September-05 (43.44 %), December-04 (38.03 %) and February-05 (22.53) than mammals and birds from total amount of eaten food. The small mammals were more preferable food for Kestrel than insects and birds during November (39.42 %). The birds were more preferable food for Kestrel than insects and mammals during May (37.52 %).The previous data clear that insects were more preferable food for kestrels than other organisms. 5-5- Food preference and consumption: Kestrels used in such experiment were trapped from the cultivated areas of Ismailia Governorate and transported alive to the laboratory. The healthy birds were kept in the laboratory for a period of 15 days before testing. Twenty four birds of males were selected for study. Each bird was weighed and kept in a separate cage and offered known amounts of different types of food with enough amount of water. 5-5-1- Non-Choice feeding test: The results indicated that the scorpion was the most preferable food (88 %) for kestrel followed by African desert locust (87 %), American cockroach (80 %), mole cricket (78 %) and house mouse (71 %) .On the other hand the lowest preferable foods for kestrel were scholar sand snake (51 %) followed by saving agama (43 %) and green toad (30 %). The land snails, was hateful food for kestrel under laboratory conditions. The arthropods and small mammals were most preferable foods for kestrels. 5-5-2- Choice feeding test : The results of the sex group of foods showed that African desert locust, fan –footed gecko, bean skink, saving’s agama, Egyptian square and the rats were the most preferable foods for kestrel. 5-6- Histological studies: Five birds of both sexes were used specimens from the alimentary tract (esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine) as well as from the liver and Kidney was taken, for histological studies.