For the first time SEO / BirdLife has chosen a nocturnal raptor as Bird of the Year. The European owl ( Athene noctua ) thus becomes the main species of this 2011 to draw attention to its conservation status, the threats it presents and how we can all contribute to improve their populations. Its recent decline, more than 40% in the last decade in Spain , is mainly caused by agricultural intensification and the changes in land use experienced in recent decades have had a completely negative effect.
The elimination of borders, old trees or hedges, in agricultural areas, together with the abandonment of traditional crops and extensive grazing in other regions has caused the habitat that the owl needs (open places, where to reproduce and perches to stalk its prey ) has been modified. Other dangers for this raptor are the use of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides linked to intensive agriculture or the use of poisons to control agricultural pests; in addition to the abuses or illegal hunting
A nocturnal raptor that “meows”
The Little Owl is a compact, plump-looking nocturnal bird of prey with a flat, rounded-looking head and characteristic wide, clear eyebrows, which makes it look like it is angry. He has big yellow eyes with a surprised expression. The female is slightly larger than the male.
The male usually begins to mark his territory at the beginning of February from an innkeeper emitting his characteristic song, which in many towns they call the “owl’s meow” . Courtship is in late March or early April. The female uses natural cavities in trees, old buildings or walls to locate her nest and carry out laying. It also nests in abandoned jackdaw or gray pigeon nests, dovecotes, stone-pile embankments that farmers make by removing these stones from their crops. It lays 2 to 5 eggs that it incubates for 25-30 days. It seems that the attachment to the nests is strong and that the pairs remain together until one of the two dies . It is most active at dawn and dusk, and it often hunts during the day.
The song of the owl and other nocturnal birds has served as inspiration for the musical composition “Noctua”, by the biomusic composer Senen Barreiro, which is available on the website www.seo.org/?avedelano2011.
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