Pygmy owl Glaucidium passerinum and Tengmalm's owl Aegolius funereus in Kampinos Forest: an analysis of factors which condition the occurrence of both species

• Main Author: Pepłowska-Marczak, Danuta
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Przedsiębiorstwo Wydawnictw Naukowych Darwin / Scientific Publishing House DARWIN 2019
• Subjects: envir; geo; Norway; Accipiter gentilis; Northern Goshawk
• Online Access: https://bibliotekanauki.pl/articles/1066269.pdf; https://bibliotekanauki.pl/articles/1066269

The occurrence of the pygmy owl Glaucidium passerinum and Tengmalm's owl Aegolius funereus in Kampinos Forest has not so far been described in literature. The Kampinos Forest and at the same time Kampinos National Park is situated apart from typical ranges of both these species in Poland. The area also lacks the Norway spruce Picea abies, which according to many authors is an important factor for both owl species to occur. Nevertheless, for several years now both of them have been reported from Kampinos Forest and their abundance has been growing. In 2009-2018 five Tengmalm’s owl’s territories where found, while in 2016-2018 six pygmy owl’s territories were reported. This paper analysis the distribution and habitat preferences of these owls in Kampinoska Forest both in terms of types of forest stands and the threat from the tawny owl Strix aluco and northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis. Tengmalms’ owl’s habitats were rather homogenous and they were always pine coniferous forests of various types, over 140 years old on average and with poor understorey. Pygmy owl chose forest parts rich in species, with a high share of deciduous trees and bushes, of varied age structure, with the dominant pine trees over 110 years old on average.