Diet and nest site characteristics of Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) breeding in two different habitats in north-eastern Greece
PAPAGEORGIOU N.K., VLACHOS C.G. and BAKALOUDIS D.E.Abstract:
One hundred and eighty-five pellets and prey remains of Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) collected during 1990-92 in north-eastern Greece, were examined to determine the owl's food habits. The Eagle Owl took a wide range of prey, its diet consisting of about 59 species. The main food group was vertebrates (95.2070 by numbers) supplemented with invertebrates (4.8%). The most important food groups were small mammals (48.9%) and birds (44.1 %). Game species played an insignificant role as prey in the Eagle Owl's diet. The diet vari ed between habitat. In forest habitats Eagle Owls fed mainly on birds and insects, whereas in cultivated habitat they fed predominantly on small mammals. Eagle Owls nested on cliffs facing S-SW. The mean distance between neighbouring nests was 2.8 km (ranging from 2.1 to 5.5 Km).