Lubuskie: Eagle-owls begin to inhabit artificial nests

"Our observations confirm that the nest has been inhabited by eagle-owls. All indications are that young owls should hatch in a week or two. Years ago owls had been breeding in this area, but their nest was destroyed by storm. Knowing this, we made an artificial nest and the birds returned" - Bielewicz told PAP.

Artificial nest are being built in various parts of the province Lubuskie as part of the protection program of this less and less common frequently owl in Poland.

In the years 2011-2014 in Lubuskie 11 nesting platforms for eagle-owls were installed. They have been mounted on tall trees in most wild and inaccessible backwoods in Barlinecka Forest, Drawska Forest and vast areas of Buczyny Łagowsko-Sulęcińskie. The platforms were installed by specialists using special climbing techniques, employees of the Regional Directorate of Environmental Protection in Gorzow Wielkopolski and of the State Forests.

"The primary goal of the initiative is to reduce losses in the clutches of eagle-owls by encouraging them to nest on special structures in the trees, due to the very serious problem of high mortality among chicks of owls, which nest directly on the ground. Availability of breeding places in the crowns of trees should encourage eagle-owls to select them for nesting and improve survival rate of young" - explained Bielewicz.

In this part of Europe eagle-owls do not build their own nests, but occupy nests built by other large birds. If there are no such nests or they are occupied, eagle-owls often hatch the eggs on the ground, digging so-called nest pans. Unfortunately, in this case the risk of loss of clutch is very high.

"On the one hand, predators are a threat, on the other - man. Intrusion on the nest while walking in the woods can result in female being startled for extended period and consequently nest looting by predators" - said Bielewicz.

Eurasian eagle-owl is the largest owl in Europe and one of the largest in the world. Only Blakiston\'s fish owl and snowy owl match its size.

Eagle-owl population in Poland is estimated at 250-280 breeding pairs. In the area of Lubuskie province there is an increase in the number of pairs with young. In 2013 it was estimated at 6-10 pairs, and last year at 8-12 pairs. In Lubuskie, this owl inhabits the Drawska Forest, Barlinecka Forest, Notecka Forest and Lower Silesia Forest.

Eurasian eagle-owl is a species covered by strict legal protection in Poland, and in the European Union it is protected under the Birds Directive. In addition, this species is also listed in the Polish Red Book of endangered and threatened animals. In our country, all other owls are also strictly protected.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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