The influence of hunger on meal to pellet intervals in barred owls

1. Barred owls fed at a sub-maintenance (SM) level had significantly (P < 0.01) longer meal to pellet intervals (MPI)/g eaten/kg body weight (BW) than those fed at an above maintenance (AM) level; MPI/g per kg for owls fed at a maintenance (M) level was intermediate but significantly (P < 0.01) different from both SM and AM.

2. During SM feeding, MPI/g per kg gradually increased.

3. The proportion of a meal occurring in a pellet was less in “hungry” owls whether losing weight (SM) or gaining (AM) as compared to owls maintaining their normal body weight (M).

4. SM fed owls appear to be able to increase digestion time as well as thoroughness of digestion.