<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Passive acoustic monitoring is a wildlife monitoring method used especially for the study of vocally active species which are difficult to observe directly. The tawny owl (<italic>Strix aluco</italic>, Linnaeus 1758) is such a species, and has not been previously studied in Greece. The aim of the study was to provide a first insight into the species’ acoustic ecology in the Rhodope Mountains by describing its calling activity at four sites over a period of 3–6 months, and to examine possible correlation with natural and climatic parameters. Based on 24,937 calls, we report a significant increase in the number of calls per night (18:00 pm to 9:00 am) as the length of the night increased, as well as a negative relation with wind speed. We did not observe a relationship between calling frequency and the phase of the moon.</p>
</abstract>

Passive acoustic monitoring is a wildlife monitoring method used especially for the study of vocally active species which are difficult to observe directly. The tawny owl (Strix aluco, Linnaeus 1758) is such a species, and has not been previously studied in Greece. The aim of the study was to provide a first insight into the species’ acoustic ecology in the Rhodope Mountains by describing its calling activity at four sites over a period of 3–6 months, and to examine possible correlation with natural and climatic parameters. Based on 24,937 calls, we report a significant increase in the number of calls per night (18:00 pm to 9:00 am) as the length of the night increased, as well as a negative relation with wind speed. We did not observe a relationship between calling frequency and the phase of the moon.

Acoustic ecology of tawny owl <italic>(Strix aluco)</italic> in the Greek Rhodope Mountains using passive acoustic monitoring methods

Folia Oecologica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Acoustic ecology of tawny owl  in the Greek Rhodope Mountains using passive acoustic monitoring methods

Passive acoustic monitoring is a wildlife monitoring method used especially for the study of vocally active species which are difficult to observe directly....

Acoustic ecology of tawny owl (Strix aluco) in the Greek Rhodope Mountains using passive acoustic monitoring methods

Published Online: Aug 05, 2022

Page range: 110 - 116

Received: Mar 31, 2022

Accepted: Jun 10, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2022-0012

Keywords
acoustic ecology, acoustic sensors, Strigiformes, vocal activity

© 2022 Christos Astaras et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Acoustic ecology of tawny owl (Strix aluco) in the Greek Rhodope Mountains using passive acoustic monitoring methods

Published Online: Aug 05, 2022

Page range: 110 - 116

Received: Mar 31, 2022

Accepted: Jun 10, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2022-0012

Keywordsacoustic ecology, acoustic sensors, Strigiformes, vocal activity

© 2022 Christos Astaras et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
acoustic ecology, acoustic sensors, Strigiformes, vocal activity