Winter diet of a long-eared owl population in Ankara Beytepe

In this study, the pellets of Long-eared owl (Asio otus) population that lived in Ankara, Beytepe between 2002 and 2003 has been analyzed and the diet components of that species have been examined. This species migrates to higher altitudes of the same region in Beytepe during winter and stays there for approximately two months. The data obtained from the examination of 346 pellets indicated that the mammal species are the main diet component of that species. Among those mammal species, the rodents have the highest proportion with 69.4%. According to the results of the research bird species are the second feeding group of that species with a proportion 26.85%. The findings are in general agreement with similar research elsewhere.

PDF

___

1.Bejcek, V. Zur Winternahrung der Waldohreute (Asio otus) in der Gegend von Chomutov. Sb. Okrern. Mug. Mastez; 52-63. 1980. 2.Bertolino, S., Ghiberti, E. and Aurelio Perrone. Feeding Ecology of the Long-eared Owl in Northern Italy. Can. J. Zool./Redv. Can. Zool. 79(12): 2192-2198. 2001.
3.Bezzel, E. Einige Daten zur Ernaehrung oberbayerischer Waldohreulen (Asio otus). Anzeiger der Ornithologischen Gesellschaft in Bayern. Band 11, No 2: 181-184. 1972.
4.Cecere, F. and Vicini, G. Micromammals in the diet of the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) at the W.W.F's oasi San Giuliano (Matera, South Italy). Hystrix 11(2) 47-53.2000.
5.Corbet, G. B. The Mammals of the Palaearctic Region. A taxonomic review. Cornell University Press British Museum (Nat. Hist.) 38-63. 1978.
6.Cramp, S. (ed). The Birds of the Western Palearctic, Vol. 4, Oxford Univ. Press, 572-577. 1985.
7.Glutz, U. N., K.M. Bauer and E. Bezzel. Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas. Aula,Wiesbaden, Germany. 1987.
8.Gatuneau, I., M. Hamar, F. Theiss, F. Korodi Und G. Manolache. Economic Importance of the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) in the control of plant pests. Ann. Inst. Cere. Proctia Plantelor Inc. New York, 1-416. 1970.
9.Harrison, D. L. and Bates, P. J. J. The Mammals of Arabia, 2nd ed. Harrison Zoological Museum, Sevenoaks, UK. 1991.
10.Joschko, M. Zum Vorkommen und zur Ernâhrung der Waldohreule (Asio otus) auf der Elbinsel Lühesand. Ora. Mitt. 30: 139-145. 1978.
11.Hollander, H. Food of the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) in Sweden. Ornis Fennica 54:79-89. 1977.
12.Kiziroglu, I. Türkiye Kuslari. The Birds of Turkey. OGM Yay., Gazi/Ankara, 314s. 1989.
13.Kiziroglu, I. Beytepe ve Çevresinin Biyolojik Yapısı. OGM Eğitim Daire Başkanlığı, Gazi, Ankara. 161 s. 1992.
14.Kiziroglu, I. The Birds of Türkiye. (Species List in red Data Book). Ankara, TTKD. Publ. Nr. 20, Desen Yayınevi, 48pp. 1993.
15.Marti, C. D. A review of prey election by the long-eared owl. Condor 78:331-336.1976. 16.Mastrorilli, M. Winter diet of Long-eared Owls Asio otus in Bergamo district (Lombardy-North of Italy). 2003.
17.Mikkola, H. Owls of Europe. Buteo Books, Vermillion, SD. 1983.
18.Miller, G. S Cataloque of the Mammals of Western Europe in the collection of the museum. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist, London, 1019 pp. 1967.
19.Nillson, I.N. Seasonal changes in food of Long-eared Owl in Southern Sweden: Ornis Scand., 12: 216-223. 1981.
20.Obuch, J. Dormice in the diet of owls in the Middle East. IV. International Conference on Dormice (Rodentia, Gliridae). 13-16 September 1999, Edirne, Turkey. 2000.
21.Ognev, S. I. Mammals of the Eastern Europe and the Northern Asia, Vol. 1, Insectivora and Chiroptera. Moskva-Leningrad, 1-487. 1928.
22.Pessner, K. and Hartung, B. Die Ernâhrung des Waldkauzes. Falke 31: 231-233. 1984.
23.Pessner, K. and Hartung, B. Zur Brutbiologie der Waldohreule. Teil 1. Falke 36 (6): 194-200, Teil 2. FALKE 36(7): 225-227.1989.
24.Plucinski, A. Zur Ernahrungsbiologie des RauhfuBkauzes (AegoUus funereus) im Westharz wahrend der Brutzeit. Ornithologische Mitteilungen, 33(6): 143-147. 1981.
25.Reichhoff, J. Fischende Waldohreulen (Asio otus). Anz. Orn. Ges. Bayern, 12: 81-82. 1973.
26.Schmidt, E. Die Ernâhrung der Waldohreule (Asio otus) in Europa. Aquila, 80/81:221-238. 1974.
27.T.C Çevre ve Orman Bakanlığı Merkez Av Komisyonu Koruma Listeleri. 2004.
28.Tome, D. Diet of the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) in Yugoslavia. Ornis Fennica 68: 11-118.1991.
29.Turan, L. Recent Situation and Potential Threats of Birds of Prey in Turkey. Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry. Series. Volume 32, 15-24. 2003.
30.Turan, L. Status of Diurnal Birds of Prey in Turkey. Journal öf Raptor Reserach (in press). 2005.
31.Vali, Ü. and Laansalu, A. Numbers, reproductive success and diet of raptors and owls in Harjanurme, Tartu county, in 1992-2001. Hirundo, 15: 35-46. 2002.
32.Wendland, V. Aufzeichnungen über Brutbiologie und Verhalten der Waldohreule (Asio otus). Journal für Ornithologie, 98: 241-261. 1957.
33.Yardımcı, M. Determination of molar variation of Turkish Microtus (Mammalia, Rodentia) Genus and its Phylogenic Results. Ph. D. Dissert., (in Turkish), Ankara, 127 pp. 1997.
34.Yosef, R. Diet of Long-eared Owl Asio otus wintering in the Khula Valley, Israel. Sandgrouse, 19(2): 148-149. 1997.