La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Timing of breeding in rural and urban Tawny Owls Strix aluco in southern Finland: effects of vole abundance and winter weather
Auteurs :	Tapio Solonen, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Journal of Ornithology (155(1) JAN 2014)
Article en page(s) :	27-36
Langues:	Anglais
Résumé :	The onset of breeding in boreal owls might be linked to food supply, weather conditions or both, but the relative importance of each is poorly understood. The primary goal of this study was to discuss the impact that fluctuating food supply and various climatic factors have on the timing of breeding in northern Tawny Owls Strix aluco in rural and urban environments. The timing of breeding was significantly earlier in urban territories than in rural ones. In accordance with earlier findings, very early clutches occurred mainly in urban habitats. In association with being significantly earlier in urban than in rural habitats, the breeding of Tawny Owls began earlier the higher the (autumn) vole levels and the milder the preceding winter. Owls bred earlier the more there were voles and snow simultaneously. It seems that the state of readiness to start egg laying in urban habitats is in general higher than elsewhere and therefore favourable large-scale environmental conditions may also activate breeding earlier there than in rural areas.

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