La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Forest cover and breeding density of the Tawny Owl Strix aluco in different wood types of Central Italy
Auteurs :	Lamberto Ranazzi, Auteur ; Luca Salvati, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Ornithologischer Anzeiger (41(1) April, 2002)
Article en page(s) :	57-62
Résumé :	The proportion of suitable habitat left affects population features of woodland raptors. Here we correlated the proportion of forested areas with Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) density and the amount of wooded areas per owl territory recorded in four deciduous forest types along an elevation gradient in central Italy. Mature coastal and hilly oak forests supported high population levels of this owl which decreased in urban woods and in mountain beech woods. Density differed up to 3-fold among forest types, suggesting that forest type and quality has a direct effect in determining breeding density. Coastal oak forests provided abundant nest and food supply as well as microclimatic favourable conditions for chick rearing, and may be regarded as optimal for the Tawny Owl. The amount of wooded areas per territory is rather stable in all forest types, suggesting that the minimum habitat requirement of Tawny Owls depend on the forest type. Different management strategies in preserving local high-density populations of this owl should be undertaken strictly based on the forest type.

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