How do bussards/falcons find mice in winter under snow.....

[allerleirauh]

I was wondering how birds of prey find in winter the mice under the snow, or also in other seasons in deep grass . They can not see the mice there..
I read now that they follow the urine marks of the mice . Mice mark their ways with urine and the bussards/falcons have the ability to see ultraviolett light. The urine has substances which glow in daylight and the birds just follow the traces. Around mouseholes are most of the urinemarks , so they just wait for the mouse to come out and catch her.......I found that amazing.

Gitta

[pheonix]

i have also heard this, its amazing. i also know that as many mice and Moles often use the same runs the birds learn where they are and just wait. im not sure about falcons hearing but i know owls can hunt with their sence of hearing alone!

[allerleirauh]

yes, owls have a very good hearingsense. So barnowls are able to hear in frequenzes of 10.000kHz. But you must also consider, that they have annother hunting behaviour. THey mostly sit and wait for their prey to approach. Birds of prey which hunt during daytime, fly mostly high over the ground watching out for "food", so the hearingsense would not help them. I do not think, that they hear as good as owls.. there is no need for that.

[Helen]

I have many tawny owls here, and one of them has chosen a tree in the garden, that is above a mouse hole close to the bird feeders!

All the owl has to do is sit there and wait until the mouse decides to pop out of the hole for some grub!