<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The diet of the endemic Cyprus scops owl (<italic>Otus cyprius</italic>) was studied for the first time during the breeding season 2021 in 7 nesting sites from 6 sampling locations using the pellet analysis (n = 65 pellets). Insects, mostly Orthoptera and Coleoptera, comprised the bulk of the owl diet (87% abundance, 31% biomass), whereas small mammals and reptiles were important in terms of biomass, with 41% and 24%, respectively. Birds were the lowest prey order, with 0.6% abundance and 3.6% biomass. The most essential insects were grasshoppers (Acrididae) (17%) and scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae) (6%). From vertebrate prey, Mus spp. (23.7%), Mediterranean house gecko (<italic>Hemidactylus turcicus</italic>) (8%), Cyprus spiny mice (<italic>Acomys nesiotes</italic>) (8%), juvenile black rats (<italic>Rattus rattus</italic>) (7%), and Cyprus agamas (<italic>Laudakia cypriaca</italic>) (5%) stand out as % biomass. Predation on a bat species (<italic>Pipistrellus</italic> sp.) by scops owl was documented for the first time in Cyprus. The estimated prey biomass ranged from 0.1 – 25 grams, averaging 2.1 g.
</abstract>

Food habits of the endemic Cyprus scops owl (<italic>Otus cyprius</italic>) during the breeding season

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The laying of two clutches in a single breeding season can increase the fitness of the parent birds and stabilise a population. Our study analysed the rate of second-breeding attempts in the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) population in the Czech Republic. In the research, a total of 8,049 common kestrel nests were checked between 1979 and 2019. Of the 1,197 breeding events recorded during the study period in Moravia, 1,184 cases were first clutches and 13 cases (1.1%) were second breeding attempts. In Bohemia, a total of 6,852 breeding events were observed during the same study period, of which 6,811 were first clutches, 32 cases were late breeding attempts and 9 cases (0.1%) were second clutches. Second breeding events occurred only rarely, mainly during population outbreaks of prey species. During the mass outbreak of the common vole (Microtus arvalis) population in the Czech Republic in 2019, 5 (5.2%) of the 97 studied common kestrel pairs nested for the second time in Moravia; in Bohemia, second clutches were recorded in 3 (8.1%) of the 37 studied pairs. The second breeding attempts were recorded at an altitude of 272 ± 123 m (mean ± SD, range 179–560 m, n = 22) and commenced between 24 June and 25 July (29 June on average, n = 5). The range of the time gap between the first and the second clutch was 54 to 92 days (70.8 ± 16.3 days, n = 5). The second clutches consisted of an average of 4.1 ± 0.9 eggs (range 3–6, n = 12), with an average of 3.7 ± 0.9 fledglings in each successful breeding pair (range 2–5, n = 11) and 2.6 ± 1.9 fledglings for each initiated breeding attempt (range 0–5, n = 16).
</abstract>

Second-breeding events of the common kestrel (<italic>Falco tinnunculus</italic>) in the Czech Republic

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Raptor Journal

 Journal for science, research and conservation on birds of prey and owls. Raptor Journal (formerly known as Slovak Raptor Journal) is issued generally annually and publishes original papers, reviews, short notes and other articles focusing on birds of prey and owls. All articles are published in English.   Why read  The readers can find information about all aspects of the life of raptors and owls – habitat requirements and selection, foraging ecology and diet preferences, breeding biology and nest success, postbreeding movements and migration, threats and protection, population statuses and trends etc.   Why submit   The journal has no article publication charges.  No regional limitation – journal published papers from Europe, Asia and both Americas in last years.  Fair and fast peer review.  All accepted manuscripts are published as “online first” before completing the issue.  All published articles are visible and accessible in full version.   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

Raptor Journal

Volume 18 (2024): Issue 1 (March 2024)

Food habits of the endemic Cyprus scops owl (Otus cyprius) during the breeding season

Second-breeding events of the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) in the Czech Republic

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