Tag: Asio otus
The third wintering Long-eared Owl census (2011-2012)
As in previous years, ”Milvus Group” Bird and Nature Protection Association organises the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) census also this year. This program is running in other East and Central European countries with the same method: counting the owls in their winter roosts. This synchronous census is important to clarify some questions related to the species. With this method many unknown wintering places have been discovered in Romania. Continue reading
Melanistic Long-eared Owl
On 16th June 2009, members of the Milvus Group captured and ringed near Livada de Bihor (Bihor County) an adult female Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) with an aberrant colour.
This partially melanistic bird showed all black feathers on his head, but we could also detect blackish feathers on the back, chest and wings, and the general plumage has a darker shade than normal. It seems that all these anomalous characters have not hampered the bird in breeding, which showing retired, but still well visible hatching patch, which confirms the fact that this bird had laid eggs in this year.
Owl ringings
In period of 3 – 9 November members of the Milvus Group went on field to catch different owl species. The target areas were nearby Tg.-Mureş city. During the night field trips, the birds especially Tawny Owls (Strix aluco) were located and attracted into the mist nets with the species call, using a CD-player. A total of 12 Tawny Owls and 2 Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) were ringed. Beside the ringings the aim of these field trips was to gather data about breeding habitat and density of owl pairs. Observations were made on other species too, like Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) and Little Owl. (Athene noctua). As a result of the field research they found 50 locations with the presence of Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) and 9 places with Ural Owl (Strix uralensis). Hopefully the field trips will be repeated next year.
