Carrion attraction: Goshawks and other birds captured on camera traps

Abstract

Southern Pale Chanting Goshawks Melierax canorus have a catholic diet that includes carrion as well as a wide variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects and other invertebrates. Malan and Crowe (1996) summarise observations of them feeding on carrion, listing Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus, Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis, Steenbok Raphicerus campestris, Bat-eared Fox Otocyon megalotis and hares Lepus spp. We report how a pair of adult Southern Pale Chanting Goshawks fed on a dead Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca in the Hantam Karoo near Calvinia in July 2012. The goose was one of 15 put out under power lines to see which scavengers removed bird carcasses from under the lines. Such data are important when estimating how many birds are actually killed after colliding with power lines from the numbers detected by researchers who check the lines at regular intervals.