<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Animal home ranges are typically characterized by their size, shape and a given time interval and can be affected by many different biotic and abiotic factors. Understanding of animal movements and assessing the size of their home ranges are essential topics in ecology and necessary for effective species protection, especially concerning birds of prey. Using radio-telemetry (VHF; 2.1 g tail-mounted tags) we studied the movements of two Tengmalm’s owl (<italic>Aegolius funereus</italic>) males during the breeding season 2008 in a mountain area of Central Europe (the Czech Republic, the Jizera Mountains: 50˚ 50’ N, 15˚ 16’ E). We determined their average nocturnal hunting and diurnal roosting home range sizes. The mean hunting home range size calculated according to the 90% fixed kernel density estimator was 251.1 ± 43.2 ha (± SD). The mean roosting home range size calculated according to the 100% minimum convex polygon method was 57.9 ± 15.8 ha (± SD). The sizes of hunting home ranges during breeding in this study coincide with those previously reported by other studies focusing on Tengmalm’s owl males. However, we found the roosting home ranges were smaller in size compared to those previously reported. This result was most probably connected with different habitat structure in our study area, which was severally damaged by air-pollution in the past, thus probably offering fewer suitable hiding-places, for instance from predators. We found the roosting locations were concentrated in the oldest and densest Norway spruce forest patches. We emphasize that these parts of forest stands require the highest possible protection in our study area.</abstract>

Department of Ethology and Companion Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences

Size of home range of Tengmalm’s owl (<italic>Aegolius funereus</italic>) males during breeding season assessed by radio-telemetry in the Jizera Mountains, Czechia

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Between 2005 and 2015 I undertook eight trips to Jordan during which I collected pellets from seven owl species. In them 14,203 food items were identified. Mammals (Mammalia, 46 species, 37.9% of prey items) formed the most numerous component, invertebrates (Evertebrata) made up 33.4%, birds (Aves, 25.4%) were represented with at least 104 species, reptiles (Reptilia) came to 3.2%, and two species of amphibian were identified (Amphibia, 0.2%). Pharoah eagle owls (<italic>Bubo ascalaphus</italic>) and Byzantine eagle owls (<italic>Bubo bubo interpositus</italic>) primarily hunt larger mammals and birds, although Agamidae and Scorpiones were also represented more frequently among <italic>B. ascalaphus</italic>. Mammals predominated among tawny owls (<italic>Strix aluco wilkonskii</italic>) (Mammalia, 58.9%), mainly the eastern rock mouse (<italic>Apodemus mystacinus</italic>) (24.9%). For wintering long-eared owls <italic>Asio otus otus</italic> the most important food was small birds (Aves, 78.3%), especially house sparrows (<italic>Passer domesticus</italic>), Fringillidae and Sylviidae. For barn owls (<italic>Tyto alba erlangeri</italic>) the principal prey was small mammals (83.1%), mainly mice (<italic>Mus</italic> sp.), Günther’s vole (<italic>Microtus guentheri</italic>), grey hamster (<italic>Cricetulus migratorius</italic>) and shrews (Soricidae). Hume’s tawny owl (<italic>Strix butleri</italic>) pellets contained mostly invertebrates (58.9%) and lizards, and their most frequent mammal prey were Wagner’s gerbil (<italic>Gerbillus dasyurus</italic>) and spiny mice (<italic>Acomys</italic> sp.). There was an even higher propostion of invertebrates (86.4%) among lilith owlets (<italic>Athene lilith</italic>). In addition to the insect orders Coleoptera, Orthoptera and Hymenoptera, remains of Scorpiones and Solifugae were also frequently found. The summarized results from individual owl species are compared with those gathered by the author in the surrounding Middle Eastern countries: Israel, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.</abstract>

On the diet of owls (Strigiformes) in Jordan

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Although studies on many owl species diets are common, there are only scarce data on the diet of the boreal owl from the lowlands of Eastern Europe. We have therefore studied its diet in one of the most important Polish population areas, the Knyszyńska Forest (north-eastern Poland). Pellets were gathered between February and June in 2006, 2012–2016 from tree hollows and the ground underneath. Altogether 178 pellets and six sets of pellet fragments were collected from 19 different sites. Eight mammal and eight bird species were identified among the 213 prey items found in the gathered material. Small mammals dominated, both in prey number (88.3%) and biomass (85.1%). Bank vole proved to be the main prey (over 40% of prey numbers), while <italic>Microtus</italic> voles (27.3%), small passerine birds (11.7%) and shrews (7.5%) were important alternative prey. Diet range proved to be similar to other sites in Europe.</abstract>

Diet of boreal owl (<italic>Aegolius funereus</italic>) in lowlands of north-eastern Poland

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Sexing of barn owls, <italic>Tyto alba javanica</italic>, using morphological traits has not been accurate enough due to ambiguous sexual dimorphism between sexes. This has been one of the major problems for the management of barn owls worldwide, especially for translocation and captive-breeding programs. In order to increase the success rate of sexing the barn owl, we compared the results of a molecular sexing method to six morphological traits for sexing the owls: the shape and colour of the facial disc, the colour of the throat area, the tail plumage, the colour of their tarsus, the back plumage, and the frequency of spotting on the chest and underside of the wings. The result of our comparison showed that sex identification using morphological traits had an accuracy of only 72.7%. Three of our samples were identified as females using morphological traits, but molecular sexing determined that these samples were males. We also used our results to determine the best morphological traits for sexing barn owls, and concluded that the best traits for morphological sexing are the frequency of spotting on the chest and underparts of barn owls (accuracy of 81.8%), as well as colour of the owls’ facial disc and throat area (accuracy of 63.6%).</abstract>

Vector Control and Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences

Sex identification comparison of barn owls (<italic>Tyto alba javanica</italic>) using morphological features and molecular-based methods

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">We tracked a breeding adult female lesser spotted eagle (<italic>Clanga pomarina</italic>) from Germany using GPS technology, and provide details of her collision with a small aircraft at Rzeszów (SE Poland) during April 2016, when she was migrating towards her breeding territory. The ultimate fate of the bird was not established until the tag was found by chance and the data were recovered. Bird strikes are a global problem with sometimes lethal consequences for animals and people. This account highlights the way technology allows us to closely monitor events during bird migration, and document human-raptor interactions. The collision illustrates how food availability might affect bird-strike risk, and indicates that removing animal carcasses from the vicinity of airports could reduce that risk. We discuss the data in relation to risks faced by lesser spotted eagles (and other soaring birds) of collision with aircraft, especially along flyways during migration seasons.</abstract>

Collision between a migrating lesser spotted eagle (<italic>Clanga pomarina</italic>) and an aircraft as detailed by fine-scale GSM-GPS telemetry data

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Ural owl (<italic>Strix uralensis</italic>) is considered to be a habitat specialist preferring structurally heterogeneous old montane forests in Central Europe. Unlike the sympatric tawny owl (<italic>Strix aluco</italic>), the Ural owl is negatively affected by human activities in its forest habitats and usually avoids human settlements. Although the young birds and wintering adults show no strong dependence on the size of forest patches and their structure, there are only a few studies on the occurrence of this owl species in non-forest and urban habitats. Here we describe several observations of wintering Ural owls in south-eastern and south-western Slovakia outside the forests during the winter 2017/2018. The Ural owls were recorded in agricultural country, but not infrequently also in human settlements.</abstract>

Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Education

Unusual frequent occurrence of Ural owls (<italic>Strix uralensis</italic>) in urban and rural habitats in the lowlands of southern Slovakia during the winter 2017/2018

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Raptor Journal

 Journal for science, research and conservation on birds of prey and owls. Raptor Journal (formerly known as Slovak Raptor Journal) is issued generally annually and publishes original papers, reviews, short notes and other articles focusing on birds of prey and owls. All articles are published in English.   Why read  The readers can find information about all aspects of the life of raptors and owls – habitat requirements and selection, foraging ecology and diet preferences, breeding biology and nest success, postbreeding movements and migration, threats and protection, population statuses and trends etc.   Why submit   The journal has no article publication charges.  No regional limitation – journal published papers from Europe, Asia and both Americas in last years.  Fair and fast peer review.  All accepted manuscripts are published as “online first” before completing the issue.  All published articles are visible and accessible in full version.   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

Raptor Journal

Volume 12 (2018): Issue 1 (December 2018)

Size of home range of Tengmalm’s owl (Aegolius funereus) males during breeding season assessed by radio-telemetry in the Jizera Mountains, Czechia

On the diet of owls (Strigiformes) in Jordan

Diet of boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) in lowlands of north-eastern Poland

Sex identification comparison of barn owls (Tyto alba javanica) using morphological features and molecular-based methods

Collision between a migrating lesser spotted eagle (Clanga pomarina) and an aircraft as detailed by fine-scale GSM-GPS telemetry data

Unusual frequent occurrence of Ural owls (Strix uralensis) in urban and rural habitats in the lowlands of southern Slovakia during the winter 2017/2018

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