Diet of sympatric Barn Owls Tyto alba and Short-eared Owls Asio flammeus in an agricultural landscape in south-east Spain

The diets of the Barn Owl Tyto alba and the Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus have been extensively studied worldwide over the past few years, especially on the Iberian Peninsula. Nevertheless, very few studies have examined the diets and the trophic niche overlap in areas where these two raptor species occur in sympatry. As such, in this study we compared the diets of the Barn Owl and the Short-eared Owl inhabiting agricultural landscapes of the Vega de Granada, south-east Spain, based on pellet analysis. The diets were very similar, as both owls preyed mainly on small mammals, the Algerian Mouse Mus spretus being the prey most commonly found in pellets from both species. Although the diet of the Barn Owl was more diverse than that of the Short-eared Owl, the food niche overlap was very high, thus indicating a low interspecific trophic segregation. Despite the similarities between both diets, the frequency of the Mediterranean Pine Vole Microtus duodecimcostatus was much higher in pellets from the Barn Owl, thus suggesting that the Barn Owl may exert pest control in years when the Mediterranean Pine Vole occurs in high numbers.

What is needed to preserve at least one animal species in a particular protected area?

The article attempts to find out what role small reserves of protected steppe play in animal conservation. What can be preserved with the help of small reserves: species, population, or a group of individuals? What role do reserves play in each case? The work is based on the author's observations of animals in the territory of Striltsivsky Steppe (division of Luhansk Nature Reserve of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine), which at that time occupied an area of 522.7 hectares, as well as and in Khomutovsky Steppe (division of the Ukrainian Natural Steppe Reserve of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) with an area of 1030.4 hectares in the period from 1985 to 2007. Materials of the Chronicles of Nature of these two reserves are also analysed. The problem of species protection is considered on the example of four species: common hamster (Cricetus cricetus), meadow hawk (Circus pygargus), pink starling (Sturnus roseus), and barn owl (Asio flammeus). It is investigated how the protection regime affects the conservation of these species. Reserves here act as territories, as state organizations, and as scientific institutions. It is shown how the use of different functions of reserves and their combinations in relation to a particular animal species can contribute to its conservation.

Rehabilitation of a whiskered screech-owl (Megascops trichopsis) in a wildlife care center in Mexico City

Un tecolote rítmico (Megascops trichopsis), la segunda especie más pequeña del género Megascops en México, fue admitido en el Centro de Atención de Fauna de la Reserva Ecológica del Pedregal de San Ángel. En el examen físico general no encontramos patologías aparentes, pero el tecolote no podía volar ni cazar. Con base en lo anterior, determinamos que el tecolote era candidato para ser rehabilitado con el propósito de reintroducirlo a la vida silvestre. Durante la rehabilitación implementamos vuelos cortos, vuelos largos al aire libre y vuelos verticales. Además, ofrecimos presas vivas para estimular el comportamiento de caza. Una vez rehabi­litado tomamos muestras de sangre, heces y realizamos un examen oftalmológico. Previo a la liberación llevamos a cabo un examen físico general donde el tecolote presentó un peso ade­cuado (120 g). No encontramos endoparásitos, ni alteraciones en el examen oftalmológico. El tecolote se mostró alerta y elusivo, sin signos de habituación al contacto humano. Tuvo un comportamiento de vuelo y caza exitosos. Sus valores hematológicos se encontraron dentro de los rangos óptimos reportados para Megascops asio y Asio flammeus. Es el primer reporte de va­lores hematológicos y bioquímicos de esta especie.