Abstract
Peliota of four kipeeip.4 of owls, collected from three districts of the Punjab (Faisalabad, 0. G. Khan and Leia11), were analysed to know their food bsbitki, Eighty-eight to 100% of the pellets con-tained remanentw of small mammals, particularly those of the rate and mica which degrade and destroy agricultural crops. Insects were consutned intensively., their frequency of occurrence' in the pull.rts varied from 1713% to SO %., Birds. and frogs were &la° GOD - 11 riat.d but much lesa frequently, It was concluded that rate and inieg wort) the main itema of the diet of owls,
INTRODUCTION
Owhi, feed intensively on field rate and mice (S,outhern. and Lowe, uhos, 19s2, Morris 1979: Bowman, ORD). At lea3t four speoiee of 'owls, aniaely,, Homed Owl (Bubo. sp.), LittLe Owl (eigherie bram4), Short-eared Owl (.4aio ficumen.?.2z1) and B Ira Owl Typg u.1.64) a[1•.r.ct 0 Li ltivatioa. in the Punjab(Pakistem),. The tiorri,ed 01.0. faVOUPS well-wooded country-sides in the neighbourhood. of water and human ha.bitaiions, The diminutive Little Owl affeots park-hods, Kardens, environs of 17 I] lagts and cultivations i n the study Sore& » large numbers, coatra9t to these two species, the Short-elrud Owl and the Barn Owl are winter viaitore. to the study area. Tho former affects open sorublands and cultivation., and the latter favours abandoned buildinga, ruins, anoient tree. mnd other (hawed structuriIi in oultvations and h.abitmtion.
Because of their predilootion for sen.111makntrists, theiee raptors play an implirtant role in inhibiting the field rats and mice population of the agroeco• 14ystfrn, Unfortunately, very little ie konwn about the food habits of these raptors in cultivations of PakiHtan, Recently, Fulk and Khcithar (19713} have provided some information On the predation of Great Horned Owl (Bubo fmtbo) on the short-tailed mole rat (Nesoicia Tha present paper describes the food bk.i.bits of four species of owls found in the agroecogyetcm of the central, liurki a b.
"iDepartmeat of Zoolop, and Piiihries, Univer9ity of Agriculture, Faisalabad..
