Endemic Cyprus Scops Owl Otus cyprius Readily Breeds in Artificial Nest Boxes

Abstract

As is well-known, endemic island bird species are especially vulnerable to extinction from anthropogenic environmental change and reduced fitness compared with mainland taxa. The Cyprus Scops Owl, Otus cyprius, is a recently recognized island endemic species whose ecology and breeding biology have not been studied. It nests mainly in holes in trees and buildings, so the felling of old trees, modern architectural practices, and the renovation of old houses in villages may reduce nest site availability. Its population trend is also unknown. Therefore, to better determine its ecological requirements and habitat preferences we placed nest boxes in rural areas adjacent to the forest, in the forest, and in the ecotone between them, and used breeding success as our indicator of habitat suitability. We found that breeding parameters like laying date, clutch size, length of the incubation period, hatching day, hatching success, and number of nestlings did not differ between the three habitats. Despite the low level of nest box occupancy rate (5–11%) the endemic Cyprus Scops Owl readily breeds in artificial nests. Therefore, although we are unaware of any current threats to the Cyprus Scops Owl, we recommend that its conservation be prioritized, including studies, monitoring, habitat conservation, and the provision of nest boxes.

Importance of Mesohabitat for Nest-Site Selection in Breeding Eagle Owls (Bubo bubo): A Multi-Scale Model

“…Even though eagle owls are generalists who breed in a wide variety of nesting habitats throughout many parts of their range [19], locations that limit nest sites highlight the complexity of wildlife conservation for apex predator species between regions and countries, especially in species with a wide global distribution such as the eagle owl. Inappropriate nesting sites for eagle owls appear to limit population numbers just like cavities can limit secondary cavity-breeders [5,44,45]. Hence, further studies are needed to determine if, by increasing artificial nesting sites, we could naturally influence dispersal and increase eagle owl numbers in areas with limited nest sites, but with a diverse and abundant prey base to sustain such populations [46].…”