Tyto alba -- (Scopoli, 1769) - BirdLife...

4
Tyto alba -- (Scopoli, 1769) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- STRIGIFORMES -- TYTONIDAE Common names: Common Barn-owl; Chouette effraie European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) At both European and EU27 scales this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be fluctuating, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Andorra; Austria; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK) Vagrant: Estonia; Finland; Norway; Svalbard and Jan Mayen (to NO) Population The European population is estimated at 111,000-230,000 pairs, which equates to 222,000-460,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 103,000-216,000 pairs, which equates to 206,000-431,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF . Trend In Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be fluctuating. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF . Habitats and Ecology This species is found in a great variety of habitats. It mainly occurs in open but not treeless, lowlands, especially farmlands with spinneys hedges, ditches, ponds and banks, and some rough grass or herbage, roadside verges, and similar rough terrain. Egg-laying occurs from March to September in Britain but the season may not be so prolonged around the Mediterranean. It nests in holes in trees or buildings, in a cliff, quarry, rock outcrops (Snow and Perrins 1998) and nest boxes (Bruce et al. 2014). It reuses nests for successive broods and in successive years. Clutches are usually four to seven eggs (Snow and Perrins 1998).

Transcript of Tyto alba -- (Scopoli, 1769) - BirdLife...

Page 1: Tyto alba -- (Scopoli, 1769) - BirdLife Internationaldatazone.birdlife.org/.../Species/erlob/summarypdfs/22688504_tyto_… · Tyto alba -- (Scopoli, 1769) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA --

Tyto alba -- (Scopoli, 1769)ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- STRIGIFORMES -- TYTONIDAECommon names: Common Barn-owl; Chouette effraie

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

At both European and EU27 scales this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be fluctuating, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations).

For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Albania; Andorra; Austria; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK)Vagrant:Estonia; Finland; Norway; Svalbard and Jan Mayen (to NO)

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 111,000-230,000 pairs, which equates to 222,000-460,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 103,000-216,000 pairs, which equates to 206,000-431,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be fluctuating. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and Ecology

This species is found in a great variety of habitats. It mainly occurs in open but not treeless, lowlands, especially farmlands with spinneys hedges, ditches, ponds and banks, and some rough grass or herbage, roadside verges, and similar rough terrain. Egg-laying occurs from March to September in Britain but the season may not be so prolonged around the Mediterranean. It nests in holes in trees or buildings, in a cliff, quarry, rock outcrops (Snow and Perrins 1998) and nest boxes (Bruce et al. 2014). It reuses nests for successive broods and in successive years. Clutches are usually four to seven eggs (Snow and Perrins 1998).

Page 2: Tyto alba -- (Scopoli, 1769) - BirdLife Internationaldatazone.birdlife.org/.../Species/erlob/summarypdfs/22688504_tyto_… · Tyto alba -- (Scopoli, 1769) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA --

The diet is consists mainly of small mammals and is usually dominated by only a few species, especially rats and mice. The species is mostly sedentary, with post-breeding dispersal of juveniles (Bruce et al. 2014).

Habitats & AltitudeHabitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence

Artificial/Aquatic - Canals and Drainage Channels, Ditches suitable non-breedingArtificial/Aquatic - Irrigated Land (includes irrigation channels) suitable non-breedingArtificial/Aquatic - Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land suitable non-breedingArtificial/Aquatic - Wastewater Treatment Areas suitable residentArtificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over ha) suitable residentArtificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable residentArtificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable residentArtificial/Terrestrial - Plantations suitable residentArtificial/Terrestrial - Rural Gardens suitable residentArtificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas marginal residentCaves and Subterranean Habitats (non-aquatic) - Caves suitable breedingGrassland - Temperate suitable residentShrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable residentWetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands marginal residentWetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable residentWetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable residentWetlands (inland) - Shrub Dominated Wetlands suitable residentAltitude max. 4000 m Occasional altitudinal limits

Threats

The causes of decline include loss and fragmentation of grassland foraging habitat, intensification of agricultural practices, urbanization, and road development which is also linked to road mortalities. It also suffers from severe winters. Increased mechanization of farms has meant the loss of important foraging sites, such as stockyards and stables, and the loss of abandoned farm buildings suitable for nest-sites. Organochlorine pesticides in 1950s and 1960s and rodenticides in 1970s and 1980s had disastrous effects on many owl populations in Europe, particularly north-west Europe (Bruce et al. 2014).

Threats & ImpactsThreat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses

Agriculture & aquaculture

Agro-industry farming

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem degradation

Agriculture & aquaculture

Shifting agriculture Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Pollution Herbicides and pesticides

Timing Scope Severity ImpactPast, Likely to Return

Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Past Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Residential & commercial development

Housing & urban areas

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion

Page 3: Tyto alba -- (Scopoli, 1769) - BirdLife Internationaldatazone.birdlife.org/.../Species/erlob/summarypdfs/22688504_tyto_… · Tyto alba -- (Scopoli, 1769) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA --

Threats & ImpactsThreat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses

Transportation & service corridors

Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Species mortality

Conservation

Conservation Actions Underway

Nest boxes are used as part of local conservation efforts in Europe. Conservation measures have also included protection and re-establishment of rough-grassland habitat mosaics, providing prey-rich foraging areas, and controls over use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. Reintroduction schemes in some areas have had mixed success, as well as conflicting with wild populations (Bruce et al. 2014).

Conservation Actions Proposed

Work should continue on the protection and re-establishment of rough grasslands, particularly alongside watercourses, field margins and woodland edge in order to help reduce habitat fragmentation and provide a network of prey-rich foraging grounds. The provision of nest boxes around these habitats is also important. The use of rodenticides should be controlled. Reintroduction projects need to be implemented with care and awareness of the potential dangers of introducing poor and incorrect genetic stock (Tucker and Heath 1994).

BibliographyBruce, M.D., Christie, D.A. and Kirwan, G.M. 2014. Common Barn-owl (Tyto alba). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/54929 on 10 March 2015).Snow, D.W. and Perrins, C.M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Tucker, G.M. and Heath, M.F. 1994. Birds in Europe: their conservation status. BirdLife Conservation Series no. 3, BirdLife International, Cambridge.

Map (see overleaf)

Page 4: Tyto alba -- (Scopoli, 1769) - BirdLife Internationaldatazone.birdlife.org/.../Species/erlob/summarypdfs/22688504_tyto_… · Tyto alba -- (Scopoli, 1769) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA --