The feeding preference of sunda scops-owl (Otus lempiji horsfield) to bait

Abstract

Oil palm is the most important plantation commodities in Indonesia due to planting area and productivity. There are some constrains faced by oil palm management, one of them is plant pest including insects and rats. Insects and rats have a high reproduction capability and severely damage to oil palm plantation. An effective and environmentally control of these pests using natural enemies, one of them owl. The sunda scops-owl (Otus lempiji Horsfield) was tested in the Laboratory of Vertebrate Pest, IPB University using different types of feed, to calculate the level of bait preference. Method used was bi-choice test, comparing the feeding of preference bait between: (a) rat and larvae of beetle, (b) rat and lizard, (c) rat and fish, (d) rat and cricket. Before and after treatment, all baits were weighed to determine the amount consumption and preference to feed. The data showed that the sunda scops-owl consumed rat higher than larvae of beetle, lizard, fish, and cricket, and significantly different.