Bulletin of Forestry Science / Volume 6 / Issue 2 / Pages 175-187
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Conservation biological aspects of the Little Owl (Athene noctua Scopoli, 1769) adapted to anthropogenic nesting environment, Upper-Kiskunság, Hungary

Dániel Hámori

Correspondence

Correspondence: Hámori Dániel

Postal address: H-9400 Sopron, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky E. u. 4.

e-mail: hamoridanielkoe[at]gmail.com

Abstract

The Little Owl (Athene noctua) is a strictly protected species that avoids closed forests. The species originally nested in cavities in the trunk and branches of decaying trees. These natural nesting sites have become extremely scarce so the species have switched to an anthropogenic nesting environment where potential nesting hazards associated with the presence of beech martens (Martes foina) (74%), with electrocution risk by uninsulated medium-voltage power-lines (51%) and with danger of poisoning by rodenticides (32%) may occur. During the period covered by the present study (2003-2015) nearly 400 artificial Little Owl nest boxes were installed in the Upper-Kiskunság region and a total of 467 birds (adult and pullus) were ringed. It can be safely assumed that the growing nest box occupancy rate in recent years indicates a rise in population. By 2015, nest box occupation rate had risen to 25,4%. The present study, besides outlining the conservation solution of artificial nest boxes in the short term, proposes a suggestion for a long-term solution based on international practice by restoring the natural nesting environment for Little Owls.

Keywords: Little Owl, installation of nest boxes, endangering factors, natural nesting, tree cavities

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    Cite this article as:

    Hámori, D. (2016): Conservation biological aspects of the Little Owl (Athene noctua Scopoli, 1769) adapted to anthropogenic nesting environment, Upper-Kiskunság, Hungary. Bulletin of Forestry Science, 6(2): 175-187. (in Hungarian) DOI: 10.17164/EK.2016.014

    Volume 6, Issue 2
    Pages: 175-187

    DOI: 10.17164/EK.2016.014

    First published:
    27 September 2016

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