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Timing of breeding in rural and urban Tawny Owls Strix aluco in southern Finland: effects of vole abundance and winter weather

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Abstract

The onset of breeding in boreal owls might be linked to food supply, weather conditions or both, but the relative importance of each is poorly understood. The primary goal of this study was to discuss the impact that fluctuating food supply and various climatic factors have on the timing of breeding in northern Tawny Owls Strix aluco in rural and urban environments. The timing of breeding was significantly earlier in urban territories than in rural ones. In accordance with earlier findings, very early clutches occurred mainly in urban habitats. In association with being significantly earlier in urban than in rural habitats, the breeding of Tawny Owls began earlier the higher the (autumn) vole levels and the milder the preceding winter. Owls bred earlier the more there were voles and snow simultaneously. It seems that the state of readiness to start egg laying in urban habitats is in general higher than elsewhere and therefore favourable large-scale environmental conditions may also activate breeding earlier there than in rural areas.

Zusammenfassung

Der Einfluss von Wühlmausvorkommen und Winterwetter auf den Brutbeginn ländlicher und städtischer Waldkäuze Strix aluco im Süden Finnlands

Der Beginn des Brutgeschäfts bei borealen Eulen könnte von Futter, Wetter oder von beidem abhängig sein. Der relative Einfluss dieser beiden Faktoren ist bisher jedoch noch ungenügend erforscht. Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Einfluss eines schwankenden Nahrungsvorkommens und verschiedener Klimafaktoren auf den Zeitpunkt des Brutbeginns bei Waldkäuzen in städtischer und ländlicher Umgebung zu untersuchen. In städtischen Territorien begann das Brutgeschäft signifikant früher, als in ländlichen. Wie bereits in früheren Studien gezeigt, waren die frühesten Gelege hauptsächlich in städtischem Gebiet zu finden. Darüber hinaus war der Brutbeginn bei Waldkäuzen umso früher, je größer die Wühlmausvorkommen im Herbst und je milder der vorangegangene Winter waren. Waldkäuze brüteten umso früher, je mehr hohe Wühlmausbestände und Schnee gemeinsam auftraten. Die Legebereitschaft scheint in städtischen Gebieten generell höher zu sein und daher scheinen zuträgliche Umweltbedingungen hier einen früheren Legebeginn zu bedingen, als in ländlichen Gebieten.

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Acknowledgments

The major field work contributions were made by Jari Pynnönen and Kimmo af af Ursin of the core team of our owl project. Pentti Ahola of the Kimpari Bird Projects placed the vole trapping data at my disposal. Esa Lammi drew the figures. Thanks are also due to Geir A. Sonerud and anonymous referees for their useful comments on a draft of the manuscript. The support of my family has been indispensable throughout the study. Nests were visited with permits from the Finnish Ministry of the Environment. Birds were handled according to accepted guidelines.

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  1. Luontotutkimus Solonen Oy, Neitsytsaarentie 7b B 147, 00960, Helsinki, Finland

    Tapio Solonen

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Appendix

Appendix

Variables (fixed effects) used to explain variation in the hatching date in the present study population of the Tawny Owl Strix aluco in Southern Finland between 1986 and 2011. The regional small vole indices of the preceding autumn are based on a total of 384 trap-nights of trappings conducted during 2 day periods in early October in two localities near the present study area and included both forest and old field habitats, 192 trap-nights each (Kimpari Bird Projects). Local mean winter temperatures (°C), including January, February and March, as well as the depth of snow cover (cm) in the middle of March were measured at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport (Finnish Meteorological Institute), roughly in the middle of the present study area.

Years

Vole index

Temperature (°C)

Snow cover (cm)

1986

13.52

−6.8

47

1987

2.86

−9.6

37

1988

12.22

−3.4

38

1989

11.70

−1.1

0

1990

0.26

−1.5

1

1991

6.24

−2.8

12

1992

9.55

−1.0

3

1993

2.39

−1.1

8

1994

1.35

−5.8

17

1995

13.54

−0.9

9

1996

2.86

−7.3

29

1997

5.73

−3.4

0

1998

8.59

−3.4

3

1999

10.94

−4.2

39

2000

16.97

−2.2

7

2001

3.38

−3.0

12

2002

18.73

−3.0

2

2003

15.88

−6.4

1

2004

3.90

−3.6

33

2005

7.03

−3.4

32

2006

24.74

−6.1

20

2007

0.26

−1.5

0

2008

4.45

0.3

1

2009

22.10

−3.6

26

2010

5.70

−8.2

61

2011

11.8

−7.0

47

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Solonen, T. Timing of breeding in rural and urban Tawny Owls Strix aluco in southern Finland: effects of vole abundance and winter weather. J Ornithol 155, 27–36 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-013-0983-y

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