Barn owl for field rat control in cocoa

C. H. Lee

Abstract

The potential of establishing barn owls for field rat control in cocoa was studied. Barn owls colonised nesting boxes in cocoa-coconut fields of Hilir Perak, and in oil palm fields adjacent to cocoa and rice fields of Felcra Seberang Perak after 6–7 months of placement. Occupancy was cyclical with two breeding phases a year. A higher colonisation rate and abundance of barn owl with a larger brood size were noted in Felcra Seberang Perak as compared to that in Hilir Perak. No
predation of barn owl eggs or chicks were noted and regurgitated owl pellets were almost 100% of rat bones. Decapitated rat carcasses found in nest boxes of both fields had tail lengths of 8.0–15.5 cm, which belonged to rats of medium body weight (40–100 g). In Felcra Seberang Perak, the carcasses identified were mainly Rattus tiomanicus (94.9%) with a few R. argentiventer (2.9%) and R. rattus diardii (2.2%). In Hilir Perak, the decapitated rats were solely R. tiomanicus, indicating predation was mainly on the predominant pest species.This study not only indicated the successful establishment of barn owls for field rat control in both the areas but also marked the first successful establishment of barn owls in a cocoa-coconut agro-ecosystem for rat management.

Full Text (127 KB)