Owls Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

The distribution of records for the seven species of owls that have been recorded in the Sydney region are presented. Records made during the past decade have been compared, where possible, with records made since the beginning of the... more

The distribution of records for the seven species of owls that have been recorded in the Sydney region are presented. Records made during the past decade have been compared, where possible, with records made since the beginning of the twentieth century. Information is also presented on aspects of the ecology (diet, habitat, nest sites, roost sites, breeding success) of these species in the Sydney region. The Powerful Owl is widely distributed, albeit at very low population density, throughout the outer suburbs of the greater metropolitan area, particularly where these suburbs adjoin substantial areas of bushland and reserves. The Sooty Owl and the Masked Owl are restricted to a few such locations near Sydney, but both are more common in the wetter and the drier forests, respectively, of the Central Coast. The Barking Owl appears to be uncommon and of concern because this species is poorly conserved in national parks of the region and its habitat is threatened by continued clearing for agriculture and urban developments. The Grass Owl appears to be a rare vagrant to the Sydney region. The Southern Boobook and the Barn Owl may be common in the region, but their distribution and abundance appears to have been under-represented by official records. The status of all owls is imperfectly known within the most suburban parts of the Sydney metropolitan area and on surrounding semi-rural properties. Efforts are needed to encourage broadscale community participation in voluntary surveys for owls (and several of their main prey species) throughout residential areas. The conservation of owls in the Sydney region depends on the protection of extensive bushland areas from urban and rural development, especially the major forested gully systems which provide essential nesting, roosting and core foraging habitat for most species. The role of fire frequency and weed control in Sydney’s urban bushland needs to be examined in terms of its impact on populations of the
Common Ringtail Possum, and other important prey species of the owls.

This drafts gives an overview over major steps in the shift of use of society-building pagan concepts as displayed in Insular Celtic literature to their oppressive abuse by Norman-Christian conquerors. The re-interpretation of pagan... more

This drafts gives an overview over major steps in the shift of use of society-building pagan concepts as displayed in Insular Celtic literature to their oppressive abuse by Norman-Christian conquerors. The re-interpretation of pagan concepts as expressed in literary motifs formed part of the ideological discourse to ensure the establishment of a much more hierarchical feudal society..

The Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch depicted owls in at least 47% of his paintings and 33% of his drawings. However, very few studies and speeches have examined this symbol, which is usually associated with night, death, wisdom, and evil,... more

The Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch depicted owls in at least 47% of his paintings and 33% of his drawings. However, very few studies and speeches have examined this symbol, which is usually associated with night, death, wisdom, and evil, in addition to its occurrence as a possible autographic symbol or simply a decoration. This preliminary essay addresses the significance of owls by analyzing the known accepted context of each autograph painting, enriched by biblical citations as reliable sources from Hieronymus Bosch’s time about his motivations. A new interpretation of The Garden of Earthly Delights emerged with a possible meaning of the pink owl in the left inner panel, as well as an attractive hypothesis about the central panel concerning its location, motif, and the absence of children and elderly people. The author argues that owls have a single, unique, and constant meaning throughout Hieronymus Bosch’s oeuvre.

Information on 13 nocturnal raptors (Strigiformes) distributed in El Salvador was organized using 900 records from 1912 to 2008. Two hundred and fifty-eight bird studies from El Salvador were reviewed, of which 72 contain information on... more

Information on 13 nocturnal raptors (Strigiformes) distributed in El Salvador was organized using 900 records from 1912 to 2008. Two hundred and fifty-eight bird studies from El Salvador were reviewed, of which 72 contain information on the group or on individual owl species (50 unpublished papers and 22 published papers). In addition,18 habitat types were evaluated and classified as natural ecosystems (coastal vegetation, mangroves, secondary vegetation, pastures, alluvial forest, deciduous forest, semi-deciduous forest, riparian forest, pine forest, pine-oak forest, oak forest, cloud forest), agrosystems (agricultural land, livestock areas, coffee plantations, tree-cypress plantations) and human settlements. The natural ecosystems with greatest diversity were identified in terms of species eveness. Distribution maps of owl species in the country were obtained and used to defined clasification
categories for the species according to their habitat. We determined that five species are habitat generalists, two are habitat specialists of open habitats, three species are generalists of forest areas (they use diverse type of natural forest), and three are specialists of forest areas (they use specific types of natural forest). The main threats to nocturnal raptors are capture for the illegal pet trade and deforestation caused by changes in land use. In the short term, specific information on nocturnal raptors will be necessary in order to define their distribution status in fragmented landscapes and the habitat requirements of each owl species.

Se dan a conocer los registros colectados durante la temporada 2021 del proyecto. Estos en total fueron 154, repartidos en las provincias de Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Santa fe, Rio Negro, Santa Cruz, La Pampa, Tierra del fuego, Chubut, Entre... more

Se dan a conocer los registros colectados durante la temporada 2021 del proyecto. Estos en total fueron 154, repartidos en las provincias de Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Santa fe, Rio Negro, Santa Cruz, La Pampa, Tierra del fuego, Chubut, Entre Rios y San Luis. También se registraron dos eventos de nidificación, dos de Cleptoparasitismo y ejemplar atropellado.

In recent years, much importance is given for the conservation of tropical forests and its biodiversity all over the world (Prins and Wind, 1993; Mittermeier et al., 1997; Myers et al., 2000) because, the rate of tropical forest... more

In recent years, much importance is given for the conservation of tropical forests and its biodiversity all over the world (Prins and Wind, 1993; Mittermeier et al., 1997; Myers et al., 2000) because, the rate of tropical forest degradation is comparatively higher in the tropics (Bawa and Dayanandan, 1997) and the loss is often irreplaceable (Nair, 1999).

This article uncovers the origins of one of the major famous and important literary motif in Welsh literature - Blodeuwedd. It describes its journey from Mesopotamia to Wales through the ages accompanied by its Christian devaluation and... more

This article uncovers the origins of one of the major famous and important literary motif in Welsh literature - Blodeuwedd. It describes its journey from Mesopotamia to Wales through the ages accompanied by its Christian devaluation and modern revival. In the last decades, this Welsh motif has become a successful literary Welsh motif export.

In this article the role of the owl in Harry Potter is examined in relation to the meaning and importance of the owl in classical antiquity. The article addresses J.K. Rowling's motivation for using the owl in a magical context, and the... more

In this article the role of the owl in Harry Potter is examined in relation to the meaning and importance of the owl in classical antiquity. The article addresses J.K. Rowling's motivation for using the owl in a magical context, and the similarities and differences between the ancient starting point and the modern narrative.

"The Barking Owl Ninox connivens population in the Pilliga forests of northern New South Wales is the largest known in southern Australia. Breeding pairs in this population occupy large home-ranges across less than half of the forest. In... more

"The Barking Owl Ninox connivens population in the Pilliga forests of northern New South Wales is the largest known in southern Australia. Breeding pairs in this population occupy large home-ranges across less than half of the forest. In this thesis, I quantify the diet of Barking Owls in the Pilliga. I consider a number of hypotheses that could explain the species’ large home ranges and restricted distribution, particularly those that are related to prey availability.
This is the first diet study of a Barking Owl population to incorporate data from many territories over several years and all seasons of the year. Radio-tracking of nine owls provided the opportunity to begin a substantial collection of prey remains (regurgitated pellets, food debris and faecal material). Ultimately, the collection period spanned 2003 – 2009, with prey remains from 19 territories in the Pilliga and one territory in a small forest to the south near Dubbo. In total, 1546 regurgitated pellets and 315 faecal samples were collected and examined. Foraging observations improved the understanding of the results.
Barking Owls in the Pilliga forests preyed on most species of diurnal and nocturnal birds, as well as Sugar Gliders, bats and insects, with a few items being taken from the ground. Prey size ranged from 0.3 gram insects to ~800 gram cockatoos and mammals, a similar size to the owls. Most prey were native animals in contrast to some other studies.
The proportions of consumed prey, as determined by pellet analysis, were compared with available prey, as determined by bird counts, spotlight surveys, small mammal trapping, bat surveys and insect netting. Prey items from all prey groups were available from all sampled areas of the Pilliga. Barking Owls distribution was positively associated with prey availability: significantly with the biomass of birds and with flying insect numbers. Mammal groups were not significantly different but showed the same positive trend.
Spatial availability of total prey biomass offered a good explanation for the distribution of Barking Owls within the Pilliga forests. Crucial food resources, particularly available biomass of diurnal birds and nocturnally active prey, may limit the population density and distribution of owls in what appears to be marginal rather than prime habitat. Land cleared for agriculture, because of its higher productivity, may have previously supported higher densities of Barking Owls when wooded."

This paper develops a new perspective on human-owl relations in the Pavlovian, a regional group of the early Gravettian of East-Central Europe. It argues that the regular representation of owls in figurative art and ornamentation in this... more

This paper develops a new perspective on human-owl relations in the Pavlovian, a regional group of the early Gravettian of East-Central Europe. It argues that the regular representation of owls in figurative art and ornamentation in this context must be understood as a result of unique conditions of encounter and interaction emerging at the intersection of Southern Moravian early MIS 2-environments, Pavlovian sociocultural practice, and owl presence and behaviour. It is shown that the diverse and tree-rich environments of East-Central Europe, and the Pavlovian Hill region in particular, provided highly favourable living conditions for a rich owl community. In conjunction with Pavlovian settlement behaviour which produced large-scale aggregation sites and seems to have been associated with a more sedentary mode of life, humans were thus particularly exposed to owls that likely dominated the nightly soundscapes of the region. This coincides with the fact that many of the present owl species are resident birds and aligns with compelling evidence for a pronounced ‘sense of place’ in the region's early Gravettian. The paper therefore suggests considering the saliency of negotiating the owl theme in the Pavlovian as an expression of the general eco-cultural entanglement of humans and owls in this setting. I argue that human-owl relations in the Pavlovian might have ultimately been fashioned by a shared sense of place.

In this literature review, I examined 475 publications with information on the global diet of the Long-eared Owl Asio otus. Data within 312 publications were entered into a database, and quantitative diet data were available from 194 of... more

In this literature review, I examined 475 publications with information on the global diet of the Long-eared Owl Asio otus. Data within 312 publications were entered into a database, and quantitative diet data were available from 194 of these publications. The composite data set identified 477 different prey: 180 mammal, 191 bird, 15 reptile, 7 amphibian, and 1 fish species, and 83 invertebrate groupings. In 798 prey lists reflecting 813 033 prey items, small mammals accounted for 93.3% and birds for 6.4% of the vertebrate prey. Prey ranged from 1–500 g, with the vast majority of prey consisting of species ≤50 g. Twenty-three species predominate the prey in at least one species list. Diet composition at the family level was similar in different regions, but considerable differences were shown at the species level.

RESUMEN: El Caburé Chico (Glaucidium brasilianum) es una pequeña ave rapaz de fácil observación en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Sin embargo, no hay registros publicados de nidificación en la Ciudad. En el presente trabajo reportamos... more

RESUMEN: El Caburé Chico (Glaucidium brasilianum) es una pequeña ave rapaz de fácil observación en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Sin embargo, no hay registros publicados de nidificación en la Ciudad. En el presente trabajo reportamos observaciones sobre cuatro eventos de nidificación de Caburé Chico en dos parques urbanos. Estos eventos reproductivos fueron observados entre 2015-2020. Estos registros sistemáticos responden a un seguimiento de cinco años en ambos espacios verdes, en los cuales se observaron varios ejemplares de caburés. Reportamos, además, la observación de dos eventos de depredación de una especie exótica por esta rapaz nocturna.

The geographic distribution of Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus (Gmelin, 1788), in Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil, is revised and expanded. Two individuals were recorded in an Atlantic Forest fragment surrounded by rural and... more

The geographic distribution of Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus (Gmelin, 1788), in Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil, is revised and expanded. Two individuals were recorded in an Atlantic Forest fragment surrounded by rural and industrial areas in Macaé municipality, on the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro state. This is the twentieth time that B. virginianus is documented in this state in the last two centuries and highlights the importance of bird surveys in regions with ornithological knowledge gaps.

The Striped Owl (Pseudoscops clamator) has a wide geographic distribution despite that there is scarce information on its reproductive biology. In this study, we present the first published nesting records of P. clamator for Colombia. We... more

The Striped Owl (Pseudoscops clamator) has a wide geographic distribution despite that there is scarce information on its reproductive
biology. In this study, we present the first published nesting records of P. clamator for Colombia. We provide data on its nesting habits
and reproductive biology from observations between April and May 2013 of a nest found in a plantation of Eucalyptus globulus in
Cajicá, Cundinamarca, Colombia. The ground nest is similar to those described from Argentina, Brazil, and Suriname; with a clutch
of two where only one chick survived and left the nest after 25-30 days. We found in the owl diet, Brazilian guinea pig (Cavia aperea)
and Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata). Little is known about other species predated by the Striped Owl or whether this species has
more than one reproductive cycle in the Bogotá highland plateau. Future studies should further examine these aspects to assess the
possibilities for expansion of P. clamator in the Bogotá highland plateau.
RESUMEN
El búho rayado (Pseudoscops clamator) tiene amplia distribución geográfica, y a pesar de ello la información sobre su biología
reproductiva es dispersa. En este estudio presentamos el primer registro de nido de P. clamator para Colombia. Brindamos datos
sobre su anidación y reproducción, basados en observaciones de un nido encontrado en una plantación de Eucalyptus globulus entre
abril y mayo de 2013 en Cajicá, Cundinamarca, Colombia. El nido encontrado sobre el suelo es similar a otros previamente descritos
en Argentina, Brasil y Surinam, con una nidada de dos individuos, donde sólo sobrevivió un polluelo que dejó el nido luego de 25
a 30 días de nacido. Encontramos en la dieta del búho, curíes (Cavia aperea) y paloma sabanera (Zenaida auriculaya). Poco se conoce
sobre otras especies que son depredadas por el búho rayado o si esta especie presenta más de un ciclo reproductivo al año en la
Sabana de Bogotá. Estos aspectos deben ser examinados en futuros estudios para evaluar las posibilidades de expansión de P.
clamator en la Sabana de Bogotá.

What future for Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius funereus in the Jura Mountains ? Thirty years of study reviewed. Tengmalm’s Owl has been studied for over thirty yearswithin an area of 150 km2 in the Jura Mountains in the north of the Canton of... more

What future for Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius funereus in the Jura Mountains ? Thirty years of study reviewed. Tengmalm’s Owl has been studied for over thirty yearswithin an area of 150 km2 in the Jura Mountains in the north of the Canton of Vaud (CH) and the Department of Doubs (F). Six hundred and one nests were studied, of these 176 in Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius cavities and the remainder in nest boxes. Annually the number of nests varied from 2 (minimum in 2013) and 57 (maximum in 1992), with an average of 20.
Overall there has been a marked reduction in the number of nests to the extent that if this evolution continues it can be expected that the species will have disappeared from the Jura
Mountains between 2025 and 2035.
Eggs are laid from the end of February to the end of June, with large variations from one year to another both in terms of the average and the length of the season. The clutch size varies from
2 to 9 with major differences in the average from one year to another. The actual number depends on food availability but also predation by European Pine Marten Martes martes which
sometimes can be extremely high. All these factors are closely linked. The annual number of nests is closely correlated with early breeding, the number of eggs and a high reproductive success.
The dominant food brought to the young is dominated by three types of prey : Field mice Apodemus are the commonest and are associated with reproductive success. Bank vole Myodes glareolus also plays an important role.
In opposition to this Eurasian shrew Sorex araneus is a common prey item and present when Field mice and Bank voles are lacking.
Eurasian shrew abundance correlates with poor reproductive success.
Capture and control of ringed birds show their considerable nomadism, which varies from one season to another. The majority of adult females and the young leave a sector after an
abundant year. Sedentarity increases and is at a maximum between two abundance peaks.
Multiple factors are probably responsible for the major reduction in the breeding population. Forest management leading to the elimination of old trees and favouring conifers over beech
is probably one of the causes. Competition with Tawny Owl Strix aluco, which is becoming more and more common, in areas where previously it was absent, is also a factor. Global warming
is probably also a factor as it affects other parameters that are essential to the survival ofTengmalm’s Owl in the Jura Mountains.

Se dan a conocer los 119 registros enviados por los colaboradores del proyecto. En ellos algunos datos novedosos son novedosos. Durante el año 2020 afectado por la pandemia repercutió parcialmente en la cantidad de registros de Asio... more

Se dan a conocer los 119 registros enviados por los colaboradores del proyecto. En ellos algunos datos novedosos son novedosos. Durante el año 2020 afectado por la pandemia repercutió parcialmente en la cantidad de registros de Asio flammeus en Argentina. Registros de nidificación y cleptoparasitismo aparecen por primera vez.

In November 2013, we released three captive-bred juvenile Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus) near Houston, Houston County, Minnesota. The owls were siblings hatched on 15, 17, and 21 March 2013. They were fitted with tail-mounted... more

In November 2013, we released three captive-bred juvenile Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus) near Houston, Houston County, Minnesota. The owls were siblings hatched on 15, 17, and 21 March 2013. They were fitted with tail-mounted transmitters that enabled us to track their dispersal and survival. We tracked the oldest owl (a female) for 4 days, the middle owl (a male) for 36 days, and the youngest owl (a female) for 204 days. The oldest owl may have made a long distance dispersal movement out of the study area. The middle owl did not leave the immediate release area before his central tail feathers broke off at the transmitter attachment point. The youngest owl wandered until settling for the winter 30 km east of the release site. In the spring she followed the Mississippi River Valley and settled 32 km northwest of her wintering area until her signal was lost. We relocated the signal and transmitter (which was attached to a molted tail feather) in the fall after leaf drop. We did not document any mortality or breeding attempts.

Fragmentation of native forest and woodland by clearing for agriculture and urban development has had a greater effect than logging on large forest owls and their arboreal marsupial prey. In this study, assessments were made of the... more

Fragmentation of native forest and woodland by clearing for agriculture and urban development has had a greater effect than logging on large forest owls and their arboreal marsupial prey. In this study, assessments were made of the contribution of forest and woodland fragments on privately-owned and unprotected lands towards the
regional conservation of these species in southeastern New South Wales. Small (<200 ha) frag- ments did not provide a significant reservoir for populations of the Powerful Owl Ninox strenua, Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa and Masked Owl T. novaehollandiae. Virtually all records of these owls in the region were associated with extensively forested areas or occurred within one km of the boundary of these areas (mainly state forests, national parks and nature reserves). The Barking Owl N. connivens, a ‘non-forest’ species, was also rarely recorded in forest/woodland fragments, raising concerns about the conservation status of this species in the region. Several important prey species for the three large forest owls, in particular the Common Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus, Greater Glider Petauroides volans and the Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps, were either absent or less abundant in small forest fragments. The Barn Owl Tyto alba, a woodland species, and two other nocturnal ‘forest’ birds, the Southern Boobook Ninox novaeseelandiae and Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus, were common and widespread in small forest and woodland fragments.

The aim of the study was to analyze the capacity of fossil remains of small mammals in the cave sediments for quantitative climate reconstructions. We have developed a number of small mammal-climate inference models using modern owl... more

The aim of the study was to analyze the capacity of fossil remains of small mammals in the cave sediments
for quantitative climate reconstructions. We have developed a number of small mammal-climate inference
models using modern owl pellet samples from 144 sites. Canonical correspondence analysis was used
to reveal the factors (climate parameters, agent of accumulation) that best reflect the main patterns of
variation in the modern small mammal assemblages. Annual Mean Temperature, Maximal Temperature of
Warmest Month, and Minimal Temperature of Coldest Month capture a large and statistically significant
fraction of the overall variance in the recent small mammal data. Four inference models were tested. The
results of cross-validation showed that Modern Analog Technique and Weighted Averaging Partial Least
Squares (WAPLS) were the best in terms of performance statistics. Using these models it was possible to
produce quantitative records of past temperatures based on small mammal stratigraphic cave sequences
from Bulgaria (Cave 16 and Cave 15) and Italy (Castelcivita, Mura, and Continenza). For each locality
both methods revealed similar trends in climate change, but differ somewhat in terms of specific values of
the reconstructed temperatures. The differences between them were larger in non-analog situations. In this
sense, WAPLS was considered more reliable in the reconstruction of climate features during Late Pleistocene.
Reconstructions made on the basis of this method have important implications for understanding
paleoenvironmental changes during Late Quaternary. The reconstructions support the previous qualitative
interpretations and reconstructions based on other proxies.

The paper examines leather straps associated with avian bones from archaeological excavations in Medieval Russia. These leather straps, found attached to the tarsometatarsi of hunting birds, such as gyrfalcon, peregrine falcon, goshawk... more

The paper examines leather straps associated with avian bones from archaeological excavations in Medieval Russia. These leather straps, found attached to the tarsometatarsi of hunting birds, such as gyrfalcon, peregrine falcon, goshawk and sparrowhawk, constitute components of falconry equipment. A leather strap, secured on the tarsometatarsus of a buzzard, indicates the use of this bird as a decoy during the training of hunting birds. The same is true for the crane and little owl. The loss of other bones of the avian skeletons during the excavation process often leads to the erroneous interpretation of the leather straps with avian tarsometatarsi as amulets.

Belief systems of human societies are deeply related with animals, which are symbolised in traditional narratives. Here we review reported cases from around the world and our own ethnographic observations from southern Chile, to analyse... more

Belief systems of human societies are deeply related with animals, which are symbolised in traditional narratives. Here we review reported cases from around the world and our own ethnographic observations from southern Chile, to analyse beliefs associated with owls. In particular, we explore the role that owls play in traditional narratives and the likely reasons of their saliency, including their connections with the extraordinary. For the latter, we utilise the concept of “the uncanny” to analyse how owls generate a feeling of something not simply mysterious but, more specifically, something strangely familiar. Owls trigger unsettling experiences of the “normal,” with the ensuing feelings of unhomeliness, which may explain their saliency across human societies. Finally, we discuss that the uncanny nature of owls is precisely what locates them in a culturally stimulating position and what should be considered by conservationists and politicians to tackle a more integrative approach to owl conservation.