Interspecific interactions of the critically endangered Forest Owlet (Athene blewitti)

Abstract

The Forest Owlet (Athene blewitti) is critically endangered and at extremely high risk of extinction owing to its restricted distribution. An expedition was organized to determine the density of the Forest Owlet in the Melghat Tiger Reserve in February 2004 where they had been observed sporadically in the previous 5 years. We hoped to identify as many individuals as possible and to observe interspecific interactions in order to understand the social framework in which the species survives. A total of 43.4 km of jungle roads was checked; we confirmed the presence of three of the 13 previously reported individuals, and found 11 previously undetected owlets. Owlets were found in areas with several interconnected forest clearings which allowed the owlets to forage in them. In all cases where the Forest Owlet occurred, a village or agricultural fields of the indigenous people (Adivasis) was within a 0.5-km radius. It appears that Forest Owlets preferred to establish feeding territories in areas disturbed by anthropogenic activity such as clearing dead trees and undergrowth for fire, trampling undergrowth while searching for firewood, burning areas around the agricultural plots, or driving herds of cattle through the area. All of these activities appear to optimize the habitat for the sit-and-wait foraging Forest Owlet, facilitating detection and tracking of prey in open areas with sparse and short undergrowth, allowing a better all-round view due to a lower density of trees.

Quaternary climatic fluctuations and resulting climatically suitable areas for Eurasian owlets

“…Although the owlets overlap in geographic distributions, there are few studies examining resource sharing among the species (Ishtiaq, ; Jathar & Rahmani, ; Mehta et al, ; Rasmussen & Ishtiaq, ; Yosef, Pande, Pawashe, Kasambe, & Mitchell, ). Interspecific interactions and resource use when factored into niche models could improve predictions (Araújo & Luoto, ; Wisz et al, ).…”

“…Pal, Aruche, Wani, & Sahrawat, 2015). Although the owlets overlap in geographic distributions, there are few studies examining resource sharing among the species (Ishtiaq, 2000;Jathar & Rahmani, 2004;Mehta et al, 2018;Rasmussen & Ishtiaq, 1999;Yosef, Pande, Pawashe, Kasambe, & Mitchell, 2010).…”

New distribution record of the Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti Hume, 1873, (Aves: Strigiformes: Strigidae) in Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat, India

“…Rasmussen & Ishtiaq (1999) suggested that livestock and fuel woodgatherers appear to cause sufficient disturbance to the birds. However, contrary to Rasmussen & Ishtiaq (1999), some authors (Yosef et al 2010) found that Forest Owlets establish territories in areas disturbed by anthropogenic activity.…”

Conservation Letter: Deforestation—The Philippine Eagle as a Case Study in Developing Local Management Partnerships with Indigenous Peoples

“…For example, in India local people turned from large-scale hunting to a caretaker role (Aiyadurai and Banerjee 2020) for the Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis). Further, Indigenous communities have been linked to improvements in Forest Owlet (Athene blewitti) habitat (Yosef et al 2010), and local conservation engagement on the White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) is considered important (Pande et al 2013). Indigenous traditional knowledge of nature also supports conservation efforts in understanding raptor migration flight paths in North America (Tedlock 2014).…”