Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Objective: To document the presence of Milvago chimachima in the urban center of Santiago de Tolu, Sucre, Colombia, as a regular inhabitant, while determining its density and area of action, taking notes on its feeding habits and exploring reproductive and population aspects for the two seasons: rainy and dry. Methods/Statistical Analysis: This study was carried out in the urban area of Santiago de Tolu, Sucre Department, Colombia in the southern region of the Colombian Caribbean. The observations was made during six months of the year 2017, three months in the dry season and three months in the rainy season; two areas were selected, each with 24 ha and four sighting points were established using the synchronized total sampling method, with a total sampling effort of 384 hours. Variance analysis and Duncan’s test was applied and the density was determined directly. Findings: The population density was between 0.333 and 0.416 Ind/ ha for both adults and juveniles, with significant differences for the area and season. The area of action was between 2.4 and 3.0 ha/Ind and the M. chimachima feeding habits agreed with that recorded for the species, which is classified as an opportunistic, generalist scavenger hunter. Interspecific coprophagy has been reported. Application: The findings of this study expand the knowledge on the ecology and behavior of this falconiform species with urban occurrence and a wide presence in the Colombian Caribbean.

Keywords: Behavior, Caribbean, Colombia, Falconiform, Population, Urban Environment