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Background: The paper presents the results of studies on the distribution of the parasitic quill mite species Bubophilus aluconis (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) in the feather quills of the Western Palaearctic owls of the genus Strix, that is, tawny owl S. aluco, collected in Poland and Sweden, the Ural owl S. uralensis, from Poland, Sweden, and Finland, and the great grey owl S. nebulosa, from Sweden and Finland. The two latter species are new hosts for B. aluconis. Methods: Feather samples of the tawny owl, Ural owl, and great grey owl used in this study come from Prof. Marian Cieślak's private collection, which contains feathers of Western Palearctic birds of prey and owls. Each of the 77 tawny owl, 75 Ural owl, and 55 great grey owl specimens are represented either by whole dry wings or a full complement of flight feathers (primaries (P) and secondaries (S)) and tails (rectrices (R)). Particular types of feathers were coded as follows: Ps, Ss, R, primary greater upperwing coverts (PGUppC), secondary greater upperwing coverts (SGUppC), primary greater underwing coverts (PGUndrC), secondary greater underwing coverts (SGUndrC), uppertail coverts (UppTC), and undertail coverts (UndrTC). Results: The prevalence was relatively low for all of the examined birds, that is, 12% for S. uralensis (N = 79), 2.6% for S. aluco (N = 77), and 3.6% for S. nebulosa (N = 55). In total, we examined 37,260 flight feathers and coverts. The mite B. aluconis occupied only the inner S of the tawny owl, secondary greater under and upperwing coverts of the great grey owl, and inner Ss, primary and secondary upperwing coverts, UndrTC, and coverts from the scapulars of the Ural owl. Conclusion: We hypothesise that the absence of these parasites in the examined P, S, and R suggests that these feather types might be unsuitable for the mites due to their thick quill walls, preventing successful feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adult pet tawny owl (Strix aluco) presented to a veterinary hospital at Parma University with a history of head trauma. After a critical care protocol including thermal, oxygen and fluid support aimed at stabilizing the patient, a neurological examination was performed. During neurological evaluation, marked lethargy and an inability to rise from a recumbent position was noted. Anisocoria was also present, with a mydriatic left pupil exhibiting no pupillary light response (PLR) even on direct illumination of both eyes. On ocular fundus examination, retinal hemorrhage and retinal detachment were observed. Based on these clinical findings, a complete work-up was performed, including hematological exams and total body X-ray studies followed by a computed tomography (CT) scan. Additional examinations, such as brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) measurement and flash visual evoked potential (FVEP) recording, were performed. FVEP measurements performed on the left eye exhibited no peaks in either series of stimulations, indicating an altered functional integration within the visual pathway. A CT scan revealed a large hypoattenuating lesion within the right cerebral hemisphere, suspected to be intraparenchymal edema. The BAER test demonstrated an altered trace consistent with brainstem involvement and left hypoacusis due to cranial nerve VIII deficiency. Head trauma can result in significant neurological impairments in birds, impacting their behavior, mobility, and cognitive abilities. FVEP recordings, BAER tests and CT scans may be useful diagnostic tools in clinical practice. Understanding the causes and neurologic presentation of avian traumas is essential for effective prevention, diagnosis and treatment of affected birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanin-based color polymorphism is predicted to evolve and maintain through differential fitness of morphs in different environments, and several empirical studies indicate that life history strategies, physiology, and behavior vary among color morphs. Sex allocation theory predicts that parents should adjust their sex allocation based on differential costs of raising sons and daughters, and therefore, color morphs are expected to modify their brood sex ratio decisions. In color polymorphic tawny owls (Strix aluco), the pheomelanistic brown morph is associated with higher energy requirements, faster growth, and higher parental effort than the gray morph. As hypothesized, we find that brown tawny owl mothers produced more daughters in early broods and more males in late broods, whereas gray mothers did the opposite. At fledging, daughters of early broods and of brown mothers were heavier than those of late broods or gray mothers. Hence, larger and more costly daughters appeared to benefit more than males from being born to brown mothers early in the season. Brown mothers breeding later in the season produced more cheap sons, while gray mothers face fewer challenges under limited resources and favor daughters. These findings suggest that environmental conditions influence brood sex allocation strategies of genetically determined color morphs differently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adult pet tawny owl (Strix aluco) presented to a veterinary hospital at Parma University with a history of head trauma. After a critical care protocol including thermal, oxygen and fluid support aimed at stabilizing the patient, a neurological examination was performed. During neurological evaluation, marked lethargy and an inability to rise from a recumbent position was noted. Anisocoria was also present, with a mydriatic left pupil exhibiting no pupillary light response (PLR) even on direct illumination of both eyes. On ocular fundus examination, retinal hemorrhage and retinal detachment were observed. Based on these clinical findings, a complete work-up was performed, including hematological exams and total body X-ray studies followed by a computed tomography (CT) scan. Additional examinations, such as brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) measurement and flash visual evoked potential (FVEP) recording, were performed. FVEP measurements performed on the left eye exhibited no peaks in either series of stimulations, indicating an altered functional integration within the visual pathway. A CT scan revealed a large hypoattenuating lesion within the right cerebral hemisphere, suspected to be intraparenchymal edema. The BAER test demonstrated an altered trace consistent with brainstem involvement and left hypoacusis due to cranial nerve VIII deficiency. Head trauma can result in significant neurological impairments in birds, impacting their behavior, mobility, and cognitive abilities. FVEP recordings, BAER tests and CT scans may be useful diagnostic tools in clinical practice. Understanding the causes and neurologic presentation of avian traumas is essential for effective prevention, diagnosis and treatment of affected birds.

Raptors are recognized as valuable sentinel species for monitoring environmental contaminants owing to their foraging behavior across terrestrial and aquatic food webs and their high trophic position. The present study monitored environmental contaminants in livers from road‐killed owls to evaluate differences in the exposure patterns due to factors such as species, age, and sex of individuals. Carcasses of road‐killed individuals of eagle owl (Bubo bubo), long‐eared owl (Asio otus), little owl (Athene noctua), tawny owl (Strix aluco), and barn owl (Tyto alba) were collected in Alentejo (Portugal). Eighty‐one organic contaminants were analyzed, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pharmaceuticals, in‐use pesticides, and organophosphate esters (OPEs). Overall, 21 contaminants were detected. In all species ∑OCPs were prevalent at concentrations from 3.24 to 4480 ng/g wet weight, followed by perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), the only PFASs detected (from 2.88 to 848 ng/g wet wt) and ∑PCBs (1.98–2010 ng/g wet wt); ∑PAHs were ubiquitous but detected at the lowest concentrations (7.35–123 ng/g wet wt). Differences among species were observed according to principal component analysis. Eagle owl and long‐eared owl presented the highest levels of ∑OCPs, ∑PCBs, and PFOS, consistent with its higher trophic position, while ∑PAHs prevailed in tawny owl, barn owl, and little owl, related to their frequent use of urban areas for nesting and roadsides for hunting. Adults presented higher concentrations of ∑OCPs and ∑PCBs than juveniles, while no differences were observed for PFOS and ∑PAHs. Pharmaceuticals, in‐use pesticides, and OPEs were not detected. Overall, the present study shows specific contamination patterns in five species with similar diet but with differences in habitat preferences. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:821–832. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feathers comprise a series of evolutionary innovations but also harbour colour, a key biological trait known to co‐vary with life history or complex traits. Those relationships are particularly true in melanin‐based pigmentation species due to known pleiotropic effects of the melanocortin pathway – originating from melanin‐associated phenotypes. Here, we explore the molecular basis of melanin colouration and expected co‐variation at the molecular level in the melanin‐based, colour polymorphic system of the tawny owl (Strix aluco). An extensive body of literature has revealed that grey and brown tawny owl colour morphs differ in a series of life history and behavioural traits. Thus, it is plausible to expect co‐variation also at molecular level between colour morphs. To investigate this possibility, we assembled the first draft genome of the species against which we mapped ddRADseq reads from 220 grey and 150 brown morphs – representing 10 years of pedigree data from a population in Southern Finland – and explored genome‐wide associations with colour phenotype. Our results revealed putative molecular signatures of cold adaptation strongly associated with the grey phenotype, namely, a non‐synonymous substitution in MCHR1, plus 2 substitutions in non‐coding regions of FTCD and FAM135A whose genotype combinations obtained a predictive power of up to 100% (predicting grey colour). These suggest a molecular basis of cold environment adaptations predicted to be grey‐morph specific. Our results potentially reveal part of the molecular machinery of melanin‐associated phenotypes and provide novel insights towards understanding the functional genomics of colour polymorphism in melanin‐based pigmented species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vocal individuality has been widely documented in the Tawny owl (Strix aluco); however, all statistical tools employed thus far to discriminate individual vocalisations have relied on prior knowledge regarding number and identity of individuals. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of four unsupervised clustering algorithms in distinguishing among eight Tawny owl males, solely based on acoustic characteristics of their vocalisations. We also employed both traditional bound-based and robust measurements of acoustic signal to compare their efficacy. We finally evaluated the applicability of this method in identifying the number and distribution of the remaining males recorded in our study area. Three of the four unsupervised techniques had a high rate of success in discriminating among vocalisations of the eight males. In all cases, the best results were obtained using robust measurements. However, when extending the analysis to the remaining unknown males recorded, the highest rate of misclassification errors made results more difficult to interpret. Our study provided a useful tool to discriminate male Tawny owls when only their call recordings are available. Furthermore, this method could be extended to other nocturnal and vociferous species, representing one of the few existing approaches for unsupervised classification of individuals based on acoustic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos (hereafter GE) is one of Europe's largest avian top predators. The present study recognizes the habitat characteristics and food composition of the GE in Poland. The research was carried out in the Polish part of the Carpathian Mountains. The GEs built nests mainly on old coniferous trees and strongly preferred the Silver Fir Abies alba. On average, within a 5 km buffer around the nest, forests covered about 2/3 of the area, while open land with villages was at 31% and water was about 1%. Birds preferred areas with less forest cover than in the random points, but the nests were significantly further from the countryside than the distance measured for the drawn points distributed in the GEs' range in Poland. Their diet during the breeding season was assessed by analyzing pellets and food remains. The proportion of birds was 55.7%, mammals was 43.4%, and reptiles was 0.9%. The ten most common prey species included the Domestic Pigeon Columba livia, the Ural Owl Strix uralensis, the Tawny Owl Strix aluco, the Buzzard Buteo buteo, the Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus, the Martens Martes sp., and the Red Fox Vulpes vulpes, which composed 70% of food items. Our results showed that the GE is a top predator, as evidenced by the high share of other predators—both mammal and bird species—in its diet, which constituted about 34% of identified preys. The diet of the studied GE population showed geographical variation, suggesting local adaptations to available prey species. The share of Roe Deer increased from west to east, indicating a higher availability in the less urbanized eastern part of the country. An analysis of general food categories showed that, as latitude increased, the share of captured birds among prey of the GEs declined, while the percentage of forest prey increased. Pigeons were prey of the GEs mainly in the western part of their range. The GEs often captured species with nocturnal activity—owls and martens, which were identified in most of the GEs' territories. The proportion of mammals in the diet of the GE increased with an increase in the proportion of open areas, while the abundance of birds of prey and owls in the diet correlated with a higher proportion of forests. The greatest threat to Poland's GE population is the reduction in semi-open areas with low human activity and low human population densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the associations between climate, food conditions and reproduction in the wild has been the focus of numerous studies in recent years, we still know little about population level responses to climate and fluctuating food conditions in long-lived species and during longer periods of time. Here, we assessed the relative importance of the abundance of the main prey in winter (small mammals), and winter climate on population size and productivity in a Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) population in southern Finland during a 40-year period. We studied how population trends changed over time and in relation to winter weather and small mammal abundance on three levels: total estimated population size, proportion of breeders and population productivity. We identified declining trends in each population parameter over time, as well as directional changes in climate variables and prey abundance. Overall, small mammal abundance was the foremost predictor in explaining the variation in the number of active territorial pairs (population size). Moreover, both prey abundance and winter temperature significantly affected the proportion of territorial pairs that attempted to breed and thereby total offspring production, which reveals the relevance of winter weather conditions for population productivity. These results provide additional support to the view that changes in climate can modify predator–prey interactions leading to functional changes in the food web. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colour polymorphism can be maintained by colour morph‐specific benefits across environmental conditions. Currently, the amount and the duration of snow cover during winter decrease especially in northern latitudes, which can alter the potential for camouflage of animals with light and dark morphs. Tawny owls, Strix aluco, are colour‐polymorphic avian predators with dark (brown) and light (grey) colour morphs, where the grey morph is presumed to enjoy camouflage benefits under snowy conditions. We studied the camouflage potential of morphs in two tawny owls potential using passerines' probability to mob in the wild during winter with and without snow. For comparison with other seasons, we also repeated the experiment during spring and autumn. We found that grey tawny owls have a lower probability of being mobbed than the brown tawny owls only during snowy winters. The two colour morphs therefore experience differential benefits across snow conditions, which may help to maintain colour morphs in the population, although further warming of winter climate will reduce the potential for camouflage for grey tawny owls in northern latitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even after more than 40 years, the study of the Tawny Owl in Burgundy still brings new insights. This is the case for the presence of the Mole in the diet. While the proportion of this species has always been anecdotal in the case of the Barn Owl in the same region, and low in the case of the Tawny Owl until 2021 (around 10 % of the biomass), 2022 saw its importance rise to 51.3 % of the biomass consumed, probably in response to the drought in the winter of 2021-2022 and the spring of 2022, as well as the scarcity of voles and field mice. Although this postponement enabled the few breeding pairs to complete their broods, 2022 was the second year with the lowest numbers of birds since 1980. (Translation : M. Bowman). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the adaptability of owls to environmental changes, including habitat alterations and climate change. Owls have different lifestyles and habitat preferences, with some species being strictly stationary and others being nomads. Urbanization has had both positive and negative effects on owl populations, with some species successfully colonizing urban habitats. Wind power and fluctuating weather conditions also impact owl populations, with wind farms and power line construction negatively affecting territory occupancy and weather conditions affecting food availability. Knowledge of owl distributions is important for conservation efforts, and forecasting vegetation-type shifts may help mitigate the impacts of climate change on owl populations. Overall, owls are able to adapt to environmental changes, but their survival depends on the availability of suitable habitats. [Extracted from the article]

Documentation of cases of scavenging by Tawny Owl Strix aluco on coypu Myocastor coypus in Italy; highlighting this particular type of feeding behaviour by the species

Territorial species are unlikely to show extensive movements between breeding seasons. This is especially true for long-lived species, which often have strong pair bonding and can occupy the same territory for years. However, also in such species, individuals may face situations that can lead to a territory shift. Here, we use a comprehensive dataset documenting 40 years of breeding behavior in tawny owl (Strix aluco) – a long-lived species with high site tenacity and mate fidelity – to examine the factors affecting the decisions whether or not to move to another breeding territory and how far, as well as the fitness consequences thereof. We found that the likelihood and distance of movement in either sexes is strongly associated with a change of partner, indicating that mate loss may cause breeding dispersal. Moreover, mate change, not movement to a new territory, had negative effects on subsequent reproductive performance: individuals that changed partner were more likely to skip reproduction in the subsequent year and, in those cases they bred, they produced smaller clutches and raised fewer offspring. Our findings indicate that tawny owls change territory almost exclusively when searching for a new partner and that mate change has profound consequences on their subsequent breeding performance. Overall, our study provides evidence that in tawny owls territoriality and monogamy are associated and strongly linked to fitness, but mate fidelity may be more important than site fidelity, likely because sexes are involved in specific tasks and their cooperation ensures breeding success and, consequently, increases fitness. Significance statement: Breeding dispersal, the movement of individuals between breeding sites, can entail high costs for animal fitness, especially for territorial species, which display strong site fidelity. We studied the factors associated with breeding dispersal and the consequences on breeding performances in tawny owl (Strix aluco), a highly territorial species. We found that tawny owls moved more frequently to another breeding territory when the mate died. Either sexes showed an equal probability to move, but the effect was stronger in females than in males after a mate change. Moreover, owls that changed partner showed delayed reproduction, smaller clutch and a higher probability to skip reproduction. Our findings show that in tawny owls territoriality and monogamy are associated and strongly linked to fitness, but mate fidelity may be more important than site fidelity, likely because sexes share the costs of holding the territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L'année 2023 a été marquée par la distinction reçue par la Station ornithologique suisse, récompensant des années d'engagement dans la région du Klettgau SH. Le paysage rural a été élu « Paysage de l'année 2023 ». Grâce à la collaboration avec les agriculteurs, des surfaces à grande qualité écologique font le bonheur d'espèces comme le Tarier pâtre Saxicola torquatus et l'Alouette des champs Alauda arvensis. Les projets de conservation ont également montré que ce genre de surfaces de promotion de la biodiversité était essentiel à l'Effraie des clochers Tyto alba. Tout porte à croire que les projets agricoles de la Station ornithologique ont de beaux jours devant eux, grâce au renforcement de son activité en Suisse romande, avec la nouvelle antenne régionale d'Yverdon-les-Bains VD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Vistula River in Central Europe is widely recognized for its high nature value and attracts attention of numerous researchers as an example of a dynamic river flowing in an extensively managed floodplain. In this study of diversity of small mammals along the Vistula valley, we analyzed the diet of tawny owl Strix aluco, a common predator considered an efficient collector of rodents and shrews. Altogether 19 species, including 12 rodents, 5 soricomorphs (shrews and relatives), 1 carnivore, and 1 bat species were recorded. High species richness of small mammals can be attributed to a mosaic of agricultural land and the remnants of riparian forest and meadows in the Vistula floodplain. Out of the four most numerous species, two (bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus and yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis) are typical forest inhabitants, and two (striped field mouse A. agrarius and common vole Microtus arvalis) are associated with urban and agricultural land. This study of small mammals indicates the important role of natural large river valleys in the maintenance of local biodiversity. The Vistula River is one of the largest European semi-natural rivers of high ecological value that functions as an ecological corridor. To assess the structure of small mammal communities along the Vistula River, an analysis of the diet of an opportunistic predator, the tawny owl Strix aluco, was used. A total of 6355 individuals of 19 species were found, including 5 soricomorph species, 12 rodents, 1 carnivore, and 1 bat species. Tawny owls most frequently caught Apodemus agrarius, Clethrionomys glareolus, Apodemus flavicollis, and Microtus arvalis. Rodents dominated small mammal communities (90%), followed by soricomorphs (8%), and the share of Chiroptera was significant (2%). Using Ward's method in cluster analysis, three clusters of sites with similar mammal communities were identified. The cluster that included 17 study sites with the dominance of agriculture habitats was inhabited by diverse mammal communities with a high number of species. In the cluster composed of three suburban forest sites, mammal communities had the lowest diversity, although the high species richness and the highest shares of the forest species (A. flavicollis, C. glareolus, and Nyctalus noctula). Mammal communities in the cluster were composed of three urban sites were dominated by A. agrarius and M. arvalis. The study indicates the high species richness of small mammals in floodplains of the Vistula River and the adjacent areas in central Poland. The floodplain offers suitable habitats for species associated with forests, water bodies, agricultural land, and developed areas. The data collected confirms earlier model predictions about the presence of well-connected local populations of forest mammals along the Vistula River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Gloger's rule, animal colouration is expected to be darker in wetter and warmer climates. Such environmental clines are predicted to occur in colour polymorphic species and to be shaped by selection if colour morphs represent adaptations to different environments. We studied if the distribution of the colour polymorphic tawny owl (Strix aluco) morphs (a pheomelanic brown and a pale grey) across Europe follow the predictions of Gloger's rule and if there is a temporal change in the geographical patterns corresponding to regional variations in climate change. We used data on tawny owl museum skin specimen collections. First, we investigated long‐term spatiotemporal variation in the probability of observing the colour morphs in different climate zones. Second, we studied if the probability of observing the colour morphs was associated with general climatic conditions. Third, we studied if weather fluctuations prior to the finding year of an owl explain colour morph in each climate zone. The brown tawny owl morph was historically more common than the grey morph in every studied climate zone. Over time, the brown morph has become rarer in the temperate and Mediterranean zone, whereas it has first become rarer but then again more common in the boreal zone. Based on general climatic conditions, winter and summer temperatures were positively and negatively associated with the proportion of brown morph, respectively. Winter precipitation was negatively associated with the proportion of brown morph. The effects of 5‐year means of weather on the probability to observe a brown morph differed between climate zones, indicating region‐dependent effect of climate change and weather on tawny owl colouration. To conclude, tawny owl colouration does not explicitly follow Gloger's rule, implying a time and space‐dependent complex system shaped by many factors. We provide novel insights into how the geographic distribution of pheomelanin‐based colour polymorphism is changing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraspecific color variation is often associated with camouflage or protection, but melanin-based color variation is also linked to behavioral and physiological aspects including boldness. In the melanin-based plumage color polymorphic tawny owl (Strix aluco), the grey morph is known to be more cryptic than the brown morph. Using 19 captive tawny owls (11 grey and 8 brown), we tested if these two color morphs that differ in camouflage tend to differently use exposed perches in a familiar environment (home aviary) and a novel environment (experimental aviary), as well as whether their response to predation risk and mobbing cues differs. The two color morphs did not differ in their exposure under known conditions (in their home aviary), but brown tawny owls were more likely to use exposed perches than grey tawny owls after release in a novel environment. Significance statement: Melanin-based coloration can be associated with several behavioral traits. However, it is still unknown how predators with genetically-based color polymorphism vary in their efficiency of active background choice and risk-prone behavior while facing predation risk or mobbing harassment. Using captive tawny owls, we investigated predators' behavior (attention towards the stimulus and use of space) while confronted to mobbing events and predation risk. We showed that tawny owls were using their space differently according to their color morph in a novel environment (experimental aviary) but not in a familiar environment (home aviary). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In February 2015, there was a re-search on the number and distribution of the Tawny owl within Protected Natural Monument "Šuma Košutnjak" (Košutnjak Forest). The aim was to deter-mine the nesting population of Tawny owls, as well as the distribution of occupied territories in Košutnjak, which is surrounded by the urban part of Belgrade and under pressure from intensive car traffic. The method was calling and listening. In five evenings, the entire protected area was explored. Using this method, 7 territories of Tawny owls have been determined in the researched area.

Background: Prior research has shown that the European peninsulas were the main sources of Strix aluco colonisation of Northern Europe during the late glacial period. However, the phylogenetic relationship and the divergence time between S. aluco from Leigong Mountain Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province, China and the Strigiformes from overseas remains unclear. The mitochondrial genome structure of birds is a covalent double-chain loop structure that is highly conserved and, thus, suitable for phylogenetic analysis. This study examined the phylogenetic relationship and divergence time of Strix using the whole mitochondrial genome of S. aluco. New information: In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Strix aluco, with a total length of 18,632 bp, is reported for the first time. A total of 37 genes were found, including 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, 13 protein-coding genes and two non-coding control regions. Certain species of Tytoninae were used as out-group and PhyloSuite software was applied to build the ML-tree and BI-tree of Strigiformes. Finally, the divergence time tree was constructed using BEAST 2.6.7 software and the age of Miosurnia diurna fossil-bearing sediments (6.0-9.5 Ma) was set as internal correction point. The common ancestor of Strix was confirmed to have diverged during the Pleistocene (2.58-0.01 Ma). The combined action of the dramatic uplift of the Qinling Mountains in the Middle Pleistocene and the climate oscillation of the Pleistocene caused Strix divergence between the northern and southern parts of mainland China. The isolation of glacial-interglacial rotation and glacier refuge was the main reason for the divergence of Strix uralensis and S. aluco from their common ancestor during this period. This study provides a reference for the evolutionary history of S. aluco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This article demonstrates the dampening of small mammal population dynamics and describes the numerical response of owls in Latvia. Numerical response was measured by diet, breeding performance, and trends in population change of six owl species. The responses varied among owl species, ranging from increased food niche breadth in more plastic species to reduced breeding performance and decreasing population size in more specialized species. The eagle owl seems to depend on voles in the previous autumn via the carry-over effect as measured by reduced breeding performance. Species more specialized in breeding in mature forests showed greater population declines, since mature forests are vital for owl breeding, as well as hold higher vole densities. Strong numerical and functional responses of owls to voles in cyclic environments are well known. However, there is insufficient knowledge from the boreonemoral region in particular, with depleted populations of small mammals. In this study, we describe the dynamics of the small mammal population in Latvia from 1991 to 2016 and link them to owl population characteristics. We used food niche breadth, number of fledglings, and population trends to lay out the numerical response of six owl species to dampened small mammal population cycles. We found temporarily increasing food niche breadth in tawny and Ural owls. There were no other responses in the tawny owl, whereas the breeding performance of three forest specialist species—pygmy, Tengmalm's, and Ural owls—corresponded to the vole crash years in Fennoscandia. Moreover, the populations of forest specialist owls decreased, and the change in the Ural owl population can be attributed to the depletion of small mammal populations. We found evidence of a carry-over effect in the eagle owl arising from a strong correlation of declining breeding performance with the small mammal abundance indices in the previous autumn. We conclude that dampening of the small mammal population cycles is an important covariate of the likely effects of habitat destruction that needs to be investigated further, with stronger responses in more specialized (to prey or habitat) species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the significance of dormice in the diets of predators in Europe and, as a result, expand the knowledge about dormouse ecology. A total of 535 sources containing information on dormice in the diets of predators were analysed. Countries of Southern and Central Europe stand out with the largest numbers of target sources. Dormice were recorded in the diets of 54 predator species: 23 mammals, 11 owls, 16 diurnal birds and 4 reptiles. Owls hunting in forests, particularly the tawny owl Strix aluco, are the main dormouse predators. The role of dormice in the diets of predators depends on dormouse abundance, and the highest proportion was recorded in the Mediterranean region, where edible dormice Glis glis are abundant. In particular periods, dormice may be an alternative prey for owls and some other predators. Dormice were seldom recorded in the winter diets of predators, especially in mammals, contrary to what was previously thought. Records of dormice in the winter diets of owls confirm that dormice leave their hibernacula during arousals in the thaw periods. The presence of dormice in the diets of diurnal birds suggests that nocturnal dormice may also be active in the daytime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization constitutes one of the most intensive and fast spreading factors explaining biodiversity loss worldwide. The extension of urban areas and landscape configurations affects the ability of raptors to exploit urban patches. The Tawny Owl Strix aluco is a forest-dwelling nocturnal species with a wide distribution range that is well-adapted to urban environments. However, it remains unknown which habitat factors explain its presence in urban-associated landscapes. Our main objective is to determine the effect of urban landscapes on the probability of occurrence of Tawny Owls along an urban-rural gradient. It is expected that Tawny Owls will be able to use urban patches that have (1) at least 30% tree cover thanks to gardens/parks for hunting but (2) they will not use those with high noise levels (i.e., highways). Our research was carried out in the municipality of Donostia-San Sebastian in the Basque Country, Northern Spain. Data were obtained from a survey conducted in 2017. The municipality was divided into 329 square cells, of which 251 were surveyed. Tawny Owls were detected in 141 cells, and we found that nocturnal noise level and scrub cover contributed most to explaining the probability of Tawny Owl occurrence; with nocturnal noise having a significant negative effect on occurrence probability, and scrub cover a positive effect, probably because the species uses open or semi-open areas to hunt (but woodland to breed). Overall, it can be concluded that the very noisy and/or urbanized parts of the city comprised a non-optimal habitat for the species.—Pagaldai, N., Rodríguez-Pérez, J., Arnaiz, A. & Arizaga, J. (2023). Factors shaping occurrence probability of a generalist raptor species across an urban-rural gradient. Ardeola, 70: 75-88. La urbanización es una de las causas más intensivas y rápidas que explican la pérdida de biodiversidad a nivel mundial. La extensión de las áreas urbanas y la configuración del paisaje afectan la habilidad de las rapaces para explotar parches urbanos. El cárabo euroasiático Strix aluco es una especie forestal nocturna con una amplia distribución y bien adaptada a los ambientes urbanos. Sin embargo, siguen siendo desconocidos qué factores relacionados con el hábitat explican su presencia en ambientes urbanizados. Nuestro objetivo general es el de determinar el efecto que tienen los paisajes urbanos en la probabilidad de presencia del cárabo euroasiático a lo largo de un gradiente urbano-rural. Se espera que el cárabo sea capaz de usar los parches urbanos que tengan (1) un mínimo número de jardines/parques con árboles para cazar; y (2) un limitado nivel de ruido durante la noche (ej. autopistas). Nuestro estudio se llevó a cabo en Donostia-San Sebastián, en el País Vasco, norte de España. Los datos se obtuvieron mediante un censo realizado en 2017. El municipio se dividió en 329 cuadrículas y 251 de ellas fueron censadas. Se detectaron cárabos en 141 cuadrículas, y obtuvimos que el ruido nocturno y la cubierta de matorral fueron las variables que más contribuyeron a explicar la probabilidad de presencia; el ruido nocturno tuvo un significativo efecto negativo en la probabilidad de presencia, mientras que la cubierta de matorral tuvo un efecto positivo, probablemente porque la especie utiliza áreas abiertas o semiabiertas para cazar (pero bosques para criar). En general, se puede concluir que las zonas más ruidosas y urbanizadas de la ciudad componen un hábitat no óptimo para la especie.—Pagaldai, N., Rodríguez-Pérez, J., Arnaiz, A. y Arizaga, J. (2023). Factores que afectan a la probabilidad de presencia de una rapaz generalista a lo largo de un gradiente urbano-rural. Ardeola, 70: 75-88. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary exposure of predators to anticoagulant rodenticides, and in particular second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), is a global phenomenon. The widespread and large-scale nature of this exposure has attracted considerable concern, although the consequences in terms of likelihood of poisoning of individuals and resultant impacts on populations are not well characterised. Secondary exposure of predators may as rise from once or more of: (i) eating contaminated commensal rodents subject to control (target species are typically rats and house mice); (ii) consumption of contaminated non-target small mammals (such as Peromyscus, Microtus, and Apodemus species) that encounter and feed on what are rodent-attractive baits; (iii) consumption of non-rodent vertebrate and invertebrate prey that may also incidentally encounter and eat baits. We hypothesised that predators feeding primarily on target species may be most at risk of exposure to SGARs while those predominantly taking non-mammalian prey may be at least risk. We tested this hypothesis by comparing exposure, determined from the presence and magnitude of SGAR liver residues, in red kites (Milvus milvus), which feeds extensively on rats, in barn owls (Tyto alba), kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), and tawny owls (Strix aluco) that feed widely on non-target small mammals, and in sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus) that feed predominantly on small birds. We found that the scale and magnitude of exposure was broadly consistent with our hypothesis, and that controlling for age in the analysis could be important as older birds can accumulate residues with age. However, exposure in kestrels was typically greater than that in barn owls and tawny owls, despite what is thought to be a general similarity among the species in their diets. We discuss the relative importance of trophic pathways relative to other factors that may drive secondary exposure in predators, and confirm that species that feed on rats or other target species may be at most risk of exposure and poisoning.

Simple Summary: The present study examines how the variations in food supply and winter weather are reflected in the body condition of female and male Tawny Owls Strix aluco of different colour morphs in a population near the southern coast of Finland. Winter weather conditions before breeding seemed to have effects on the food availability of Tawny Owls: the depth of the snow cover showed a positive relationship, and the frequency of temperature fluctuations around the freezing point had a negative relationship. In females, intrinsic factors such as colour morph and age, as well as the body condition of the mate and the stage of the season, governed body condition. In males, only age and the stage of the season suggested associations with body condition. Probably due to the efficient use of alternative prey, the effects of fluctuations of vole populations on the body condition of Tawny Owls are only moderate. The body condition of boreal species of vole-eaters seems to vary largely according to fluctuations in vole populations and weather conditions of the preceding winter. I studied females and males of the Tawny Owl Strix aluco of temperate origin near the northern limit of the species' range in southern Finland to reveal if they show similar patterns to the boreal species. Winter weather conditions before breeding seemed to have pronounced effects on the food availability of Tawny Owls. In females, intrinsic factors such as colour morph and age, as well as the body condition of the mate and the stage of the season (Julian date), governed body condition. In males, only age and Julian date showed pronounced relationships with body condition. The results suggest that deep snow cover protects vole populations through winter until spring better than a minor amount of snow and that frequent temperature fluctuations around the freezing point in early spring make voles more available for owls that are preparing for breeding. This was also reflected positively in the body condition of female owls. Probably due to the efficient use of alternative prey, the effects of fluctuating vole populations on the body condition of Tawny Owls are, in general, only moderate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavity‐bearing trees are important nesting sites for many birds and mammals but have become rare due to anthropogenic modification of natural environments. Nest boxes are often used to compensate for the loss of these microhabitats.Nest boxes contain amounts of organic debris exploited by a variety of organisms, mainly insects. We studied the largely unexplored group of nest‐dwelling insects by rearing them from plant detritus and animal remains accumulated in nest boxes of six bird and two mammal species, distributed in forest, farmland and urban environments in Poland.We recorded 119 species representing eight insect orders. Nest substrates composed of plant detritus and animal remains supported similar insect species richness but differed significantly in terms of the insect community composition. Nests of Falco tinnunculus and Tyto alba and also Parus spp. and Strix aluco had very similar insect communities. The structural compositions of insect communities were also similar in nests of Parus spp. and Sturnus vulgaris, and of F. tinnunculus and S. aluco. Flies and earwigs were associated with nests of Parus spp. and Sciurus vulgaris and were more abundant in forests and urban environments, whereas wasps preferred S. aluco nests in forests.Our study shows that nest boxes may serve as replacement habitats for a variety of nest‐associated insects. Therefore, we suggest a more flexible approach to nest boxes maintenance and management, for example, less frequent cleaning or providing more than one nest box in a given place to enhance conservation of nest‐associated insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourteen legacy organochlorine (OC) contaminants and 12 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were measured in eggs of tawny owls (Strix alueco) in central Norway (1986–2019). We expected OCs to have reached stable equilibrium levels due to bans, and that recent phase‐out of some PFASs would have slowed the increase of these compounds. ∑OC comprised on average approximately 92% of the measured compounds, whereas ∑PFAS accounted for approximately 8%. However, whereas the ∑OC to ∑PFAS ratio was approximately 60 in the first 5 years of the study, it was only approximately 11 in the last 5 years. Both OC pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) showed substantial declines over the study period (~85%–98%): hexachlorocyclohexanes and chlordanes seemed to be levelling off, whereas p,p′‐dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′‐DDE) and hexachlororbenzene (HCB), and most PCB congeners still seemed to decline at a more or less constant rate. While the concentration of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), the dominating PFAS, was reduced by approximately 43%, other perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs) showed only minor changes. Moreover, the median concentrations of seven perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) increased approximately five‐fold over the study period. Perfluorononanoic acid and perfluoroundecanoate acid, however, seemed to be levelling off in recent years. In contrast, perfluorododecanoic acid, perfluorodecanoate acid, perfluorotridecanoic acid, and perfluorotetradecanoic acid seemed to increase more or less linearily. Finally, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was increasingly likely to be detected over the study period. Hence, most legacy OCs and PFOS have not reached a lower threshold with stable background levels, and voluntary elimination of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates still has not resulted in declining levels in tawny owls in central Norway. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1508–1519. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The validation of the use of primary cell lines from non-lethal matrixes of feathers and blood of nestlings of a wild bird species, the tawny owl (Strix aluco) is described. Tawny Owl Feather Fibroblast (TOFF) cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and cultured from the pulp of the secondary wing feathers and whole blood respectively from free-living tawny owl nestlings. Cell growth was registered up until 48 h for both the PBMC cells and the TOFFs. The validation of these primary cell lines in free-living birds has the potential to advance the assessment of immunotoxicological effects in wildlife via non-lethal manner. They provide a key tool with which to study cell toxicity and responses to environmental stressors on a cellular level in wild bird species of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents various research studies published in various journals. Some of them includes studies like increase in carbon dioxide emissions from boreal forest fires since 2000, characterization of Duchenne muscular dystrophy by repeated contraction-induced muscle injury that eventually leads to failure of skeletal muscle regeneration and ecology of Tawny owls or Strix aluco which are common generalist predators found across Europe.

The validation of the use of primary cell lines from non-lethal matrixes of feathers and blood of nestlings of a wild bird species, the tawny owl (Strix aluco) is described. Tawny Owl Feather Fibroblast (TOFF) cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and cultured from the pulp of the secondary wing feathers and whole blood respectively from free-living tawny owl nestlings. Cell growth was registered up until 48 h for both the PBMC cells and the TOFFs. The validation of these primary cell lines in free-living birds has the potential to advance the assessment of immunotoxicological effects in wildlife via non-lethal manner. They provide a key tool with which to study cell toxicity and responses to environmental stressors on a cellular level in wild bird species of interest.

Data from wildlife rehabilitation centers (WRCs) can provide on‐the‐ground records of causes of raptor morbidity and mortality, allowing threat patterns to be explored throughout time and space. We provide an overview of native raptor admissions to four WRCs in England and Wales, quantifying the main causes of morbidity and mortality, trends over time, and associations between threats and urbanization between 2001 and 2019. Throughout the study period, 14 raptor species were admitted totalling 3305 admission records. The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo; 31%) and Tawny Owl (Strix aluco; 29%) were most numerous. Relative to the proportion of breeding individuals in Britain and Ireland, Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus), Little Owls (Athene noctua), and Western Barn Owls (Tyto alba) were over‐represented in the admissions data by 103%, 73%, and 69%, respectively. Contrastingly Northern Long‐eared Owls (Asio otus), Western Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus), and Merlin (Falco columbarius) were under‐represented by 187%, 163%, and 126%, respectively. Across all species, vehicle collisions were the most frequent anthropogenic admission cause (22%), and orphaned young birds (10%) were most frequent natural cause. Mortality rate was highest for infection/parasite admissions (90%), whereas orphaned birds experienced lowest mortality rates (16%). For one WRC, there was a decline in admissions over the study period. Red Kite (Milvus milvus) admissions increased over time, whereas Common Buzzard and Common Kestrel admissions declined. There were significant declines in the relative proportion of persecution and metabolic admissions and an increase in orphaned birds. Urban areas were positively associated with persecution, building collisions, and unknown trauma admissions, whereas vehicle collisions were associated with more rural areas. Many threats persist for raptors in England and Wales, however, have not changed substantially over the past two decades. Threats associated with urban areas, such as building collisions, may increase over time in line with human population growth and subsequent urban expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Montane temperate forests in central and southern Europe host diverse small mammal assemblages, but the fluctuations in these assemblages in correlation with owl predators are still poorly explored. The key questions of our study were how coexisting owls responded to different prey fluctuations and whether any particular small mammal species governed predator–prey co‐dynamics. We conducted a long‐term study (2004–2020) in low‐elevation (300–1100 m above sea level) mixed Beech and Silver Fir forest in the northern Dinaric Alps (central Slovenia). Monitoring data on the main small mammal groups – mice Muridae, voles Cricetidae, dormice Gliridae and shrews Soricidae – and three owl species – the Ural Owl Strix uralensis, Tawny Owl Strix aluco and Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus – were collected annually. To find relationships between prey and predator populations, we used two types of supervised machine learning approaches and addressed three predictive modelling tasks of multi‐target regression. The dominant species in the small mammal assemblage, the Yellow‐necked Mouse Apodemus flavicollis, had a key role in determining predator populations and their breeding performance. We noted higher sensitivity to small mammal fluctuations in boreal zone owl species (Boreal Owl and Ural Owl), which reach their southern distribution limit in the Dinaric Alps, whereas the temperate zone species (Tawny Owl) seemed to be less affected. In years of prey shortage, the Boreal Owl was found to presumably abandon its territories, the Ural Owl suppressed breeding and the Tawny Owl sustained breeding activity by shifting prey selection. Low‐elevation forests appeared to be suboptimal habitat for the competitive subordinate Boreal Owl, which may exploit occasional outbreaks of small mammal populations in these habitats even in the presence of larger competitors. Whether low‐elevation forests can play a role in maintaining threatened and cold‐adapted Boreal Owl populations in central and southern Europe in the face of recent ecosystem changes due to climate and environmental changes remains an open scientific question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersal is a key process with crucial implications in spatial distribution, density, and genetic structure of species' populations. Dispersal strategies can vary according to both individual and environmental features, but putative phenotype-by-environment interactions have rarely been accounted for. Melanin-based color polymorphism is a phenotypic trait associated with specific behavioral and physiological profiles and is, therefore, a good candidate trait to study dispersal tactics in different environments. Here, using a 40 years dataset of a population of color polymorphic tawny owls (Strix aluco), we investigated natal dispersal distance of recruiting gray and pheomelanic reddish-brown (hereafter brown) color morphs in relation to post-fledging winter temperature and individual characteristics. Because morphs are differently sensitive to cold winters, we predicted that morphs' natal dispersal distances vary according to winter conditions. Winter temperature did not affect the proportion of brown (or gray) among recruits. We found that dispersal distances correlate with winter temperature in an opposite manner in the two morphs. Although the gray morph undertakes larger movements in harsher conditions, likely because it copes better with winter severity, the brown morph disperses shorter distances when winters are harsher. We discuss this morph-specific natal dispersal pattern in the context of competition for territories between morphs and in terms of costs and benefits of these alternative strategies. Our results stress the importance of considering the interaction between phenotype and environment to fully disentangle dispersal movement patterns and provide further evidence that climate affects the behavior and local distribution of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores Landscape configuration can influence the distribution of species across multiple spatial scales. The primary factors related to this process are connectivity, the size and position of habitat patches, and edge effects. These factors together determine the overall fragmentation of a landscape, which in turn influences species occurrence. Although some species show a negative response to fragmentation, others benefit from it.

Resources allocated in reproduction are traded off against those invested in self‐maintenance such as antioxidant response. Glutathione (GSH) is an intracellular antioxidant defence that scavenges reactive oxygen species, the deleterious byproducts of oxygen consumption. Given the role of intracellular GSH in pheomelanogenesis, a trade‐off in GSH allocation between resistance in oxidative stress and melanin production may take place. To investigate how intracellular GSH is regulated in differently coloured individuals at the time of reproduction (in adults) and of intense melanogenesis (in nestlings), we measured the total pool of GSH produced (tGSH), consumed (oxGSH) and available (redGSH) in adult tawny owls and their offspring which were cross‐fostered between randomly chosen nests. Our goal was to describe potential correlations between resistance in oxidative stress and colour morphs in natural conditions. Nestling GSH levels were correlated with GSH levels in their genetic and foster parents suggesting that producing GSH is genetically and environmentally determined (although the effect of the foster nest seemed stronger). This species shows continuous variation in pheomelanin reddish colouration, which is associated with life‐history strategies. Based on the hypothesis of GSH dependence of pheomelanism, we expected a greater amount of oxGSH in dark compared to light pheomelanic nestlings, which was not the case. In contrast, light melanic breeding adults had higher levels of tGSH and redGSH than dark breeders probably because of a higher investment in antioxidant capacity. The link between pheomelanism and GSH may therefore be due to the fact that differently colored individuals have different life‐history strategies rather than because the production of pheomelanin pigments requires GSH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Algerian wintering areas not previously known to be important for the short-eared owls Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan, 1763) Algeria has seven resident owl species, including the Pharaoh eagle-owl ( I Bubo ascalaphus i ), the long-eared owl ( I Asio otus i ), the Eurasian scops owl ( I Otus scops i ), the tawny owl ( I Strix aluco i ), the western barn owl ( I Tyto alba i ), the little owl ( I Athene noctua i ) and the short-eared owl ( I Asio flammeus i ) (Ochando, 1986). Short-eared owls are not considered threatened according the IUCN criteria, but with their limited geographic distribution in Algeria, the species is listed as "protected" (JORDAP, 2012). Data collection We searched the wintering areas of short-eared owls throughout Algeria focusing particularly on the zones where the species was observed previously. [Extracted from the article]

In snowy winters, the survival of Tawny Owls Strix aluco of the grey colour morph is suggested to be better than that of the brown (or red) morph, partly due to their paler plumage, which is presumed to provide better camouflage against predation. If the difference in the susceptibility to predation between the colour morphs is significant, this should probably be reflected in the relation between the number of snow‐covered days (i.e. the length of the winter) and the number and survival of owls of different colour. In a population in southern Finland there were no significant associations between the number of snowy days during winter and the number of breeding Tawny Owls of different colour morphs in the following spring, but the number of owls, in particular red ones, varied inversely with the number of snowy days in the winter of the previous year. The time lag suggests that the number of snow‐covered days (or some related factors) primarily influenced the pre‐breeding survival of young red owls. However, I found no effect of snow days on the proportion of colour morphs, suggesting only small differences in morph‐specific survival under long‐lasting winter conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of urban areas imposes challenges that wildlife must adapt to in order to persist in these new habitats. One of the greatest changes brought by urbanization has been an increase in anthropogenic noise, with negative consequences for the natural behavior of animals. Small mammals are particularly vulnerable to urbanization and noise, despite some species having successfully occupied urban environments. To understand some of the traits that have enabled small mammals to deal with the consequences of urbanization, we compared the behavioral responses of urban and rural greater white-toothed shrews, Crocidura russula, to different sound stimuli. A total of 32 shrews, 16 from each habitat, were exposed in captivity to four sound treatments: silence, tawny owl calls, traffic noise, and white noise. Urban and rural shrews showed different behaviors, with urban animals being more active, feeding more frequently, and using less torpor than rural individuals. However, responses to sound treatments were similar in both populations: urban and rural shrews exhibited a slight decrease in activity and feeding behavior, as well as more fleeing responses, when exposed to traffic noise or white noise, but not to owl calls. These results suggest urbanization induces long-term changes in the general activity of C. russula, but the short-term behavioral response to sound disturbance remains similar in rural and urban populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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