Diet of the Eastern Barn Owl 'Tyto (javanica) delicatula' in Diamantina National Park, South-western Queensland, in 2008-2009

Abstract

The diet of the Eastern Barn Owl 'Tyto (javanica) delicatula' was determined by analysis of 185 pellets from a roost in Diamantina National Park, Queensland, collected in March-April and September 2008 and May 2009. The diet comprised 47% mammals (17.5% dasyurids, 29.5% rodents), 7% birds, <1% lizards, <1% frogs, and 45% insects by number, and 80% mammals (24% dasyurids, 56% rodents), 15% birds, <1% lizards and frogs, and 5% insects by biomass. Some new records of native mammals (two dasyurids, three rodents) were obtained for Owl pellets from within the Park.