Seasonal changes in Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) diet in an oak forest in Eastern Ukraine

Authors : Yehor YATSIUK, YULIYA FILATOVA

Pages : 130-137

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Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :We analyzed seasonal changes in Tawny Owl insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Strix aluco); diet in a broadleaved forest in Eastern Ukraine over 6 years insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2007-2012);. Annual seasons were divided as follows: December-mid-April, April-June, July-early October, and late October-November. In total, 1648 pellets were analyzed. The most important prey was the bank vole insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Myodes glareolus); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(41.9%);, but the yellow-necked mouse insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Apodemus flavicollis); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(17.8%); dominated in some seasons. According to trapping results, the bank vole was the most abundant rodent species in the study region. The most diverse diet was in late spring and early summer. Small forest mammals constituted the dominant group in all seasons, but in spring and summer their share fell due to the inclusion of birds and the common spadefoot insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Pelobates fuscus);. Diet was similar in late autumn, before the establishment of snow cover, and in winter. The relative representation of species associated with open spaces increased in winter, especially in years with deep snow cover, which may indicate seasonal changes in the hunting habitats of the Tawny Owl.
Keywords : Trophic ecology, Tawny Owl, Strix aluco, seasonal diet changes, small mammals, pellet analysis, Ukraine