Tag: Long-eared Owl
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
2010-2011 winter’s synchronous census of Long-eared Owls
As in winter 2009/2010 a synchronous winter census of Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) will be developed in Romania in this winter too, between December 2010 and March 2011. Same as in previous winter, several European countries also manifest the willingness to participate in this program. Synchronous shall be done by a standard method, identical for each country and it is addressed for all the volunteers who want to get involved in it. Whit the help of this program we can get clearer picture about the number of the wintering Long-eared Owls in different regions of the country, about the different wintering habitats, but also about the different incidental threats. Therefore, the involvement of as many volunteers as possible is welcome.
In Romania, the coordinator of the program is the “Milvus Group” Association. If you decided to participate in this activity, please send the filled form of your census for the mentioned address (form available only in Hungarian and Romanian). For additional information and questions about the census, please contact the coordinator at: sanduandreeasteriana(arond)yahoo.com
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.
