Kampinos National Park (KPN) announced this year as the most successful breeding season for tawny owls in 18 years. 62% of monitored nesting sites were occupied, each hosting 3-4 chicks.
Monitoring and Observations
Researchers have monitored the owls’ breeding for nearly two decades over a 1000-hectare area. This year’s high success rate is attributed to an abundance of rodents, their primary food source, following another mild winter.
The tawny owl (Strix aluco) is widespread in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It is the most common owl in KPN, coming in two color morphs—brown and gray. These owls have excellent night vision and hearing, making them efficient hunters.
Tawny owls nest in tree cavities, large nesting boxes, and sometimes old raptor nests or buildings. Their diet mainly includes small mammals like mice and voles, but also birds, amphibians, insects, and other small animals. This season, they also fed on an abundance of May bugs.
The tawny owl’s adaptability and role as a key predator make it an irreplaceable part of forest ecosystems.