Patterns of daily activity of Meyer's Parrot (Poicephalus meyeri) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Most parrots from Africa, Australasia and the Neotropics have bimodal patterns of daily activity owing to physiological restrictions (e.g. crop-size) and climatic constraints (e.g. seasonal fluctuations in temperature and rainfall). We monitored the daily patterns of flight, feeding and non-feeding activities of Meyer's Parrots (Poicephalus meyeri) over 24 months at two study sites for correlation with climatic conditions, availability of food, and mean rates of protein and energy acquisition from these food resources. Feeding activity between 0830 and 1100 hours was likely to be obligate, whereas feeding between 1600 and 1830 hours was seasonally needed to achieve daily protein requirements. This weak bimodality was supported by daily nutritional requirements and midday digestive restrictions (e.g. fixed crop-size). Feeding activity patterns of Meyer's Parrots at population level were significantly influenced by high and low temperatures throughout the year. A bimodal pattern of daily flight-activity was, however, a function of communal roosting and dispersal for foraging as central-place foragers. The patterns of daily activity of other parrots that rely on seeds may also be constrained by similar physiological, behavioural and climatic factors. Counting Meyer's Parrots in the late morning, between 0830 and 1100 hours, would yield the highest minimum population estimate for a given area.