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<p>The Eurasian Eagle-Owl (<i>Bubo bubo</i>) is the largest owl in Europe, showing high and widespread non-natural mortality rates along its distribution range. Despite recent population recovery, persistent threats (e.g., electrocution) and emerging challenges highlight the need for updated conservation and management plans to ensure the long-term viability of eagle-owl populations. We studied the breeding population structure of the eagle-owl in Catalonia (NE Spain) between 2006 and 2022, using two different approaches: (1) by sexing and ageing 61 individuals captured breeding in the study area, and (2) by sexing and ageing 81 individuals found dead and determining the cause of death. In the breeding population, juvenile individuals (1&#xa0;year old) were observed at low frequencies (15%), and the most represented age class was 3&#xa0;years old (35%), whilst adult individuals were rare (&gt; 5&#xa0;years old, 9%). Interaction with powerlines was the main cause of mortality in all age classes (31%), followed by vehicle crashes (16%). A large number of dead individuals (48%) were classified as first-year birds, being old individuals (&gt; 5&#xa0;years old) under-represented (&lt; 5%). We expected that age classes with lower mortality would be recruited to the breeding population, but old individuals were greatly under-represented as breeders (&lt; 10%). Our results pointed out that the breeding population was constituted mostly of young individuals (i.e., &lt; 5&#xa0;years old), suggesting high adult mortality because of contradictions between low mortality rates and low breeding recruitment.</p>

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Population structure and mortality of the Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo) in NE Spain

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年5月5日

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  • Ignasi Torre,
  • Albert Compaña,
  • Jaume Ramot,
  • Joan Grajera,
  • Héctor Andino,
  • Vasileios Bontzorlos

摘要

The Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo) is the largest owl in Europe, showing high and widespread non-natural mortality rates along its distribution range. Despite recent population recovery, persistent threats (e.g., electrocution) and emerging challenges highlight the need for updated conservation and management plans to ensure the long-term viability of eagle-owl populations. We studied the breeding population structure of the eagle-owl in Catalonia (NE Spain) between 2006 and 2022, using two different approaches: (1) by sexing and ageing 61 individuals captured breeding in the study area, and (2) by sexing and ageing 81 individuals found dead and determining the cause of death. In the breeding population, juvenile individuals (1 year old) were observed at low frequencies (15%), and the most represented age class was 3 years old (35%), whilst adult individuals were rare (> 5 years old, 9%). Interaction with powerlines was the main cause of mortality in all age classes (31%), followed by vehicle crashes (16%). A large number of dead individuals (48%) were classified as first-year birds, being old individuals (> 5 years old) under-represented (< 5%). We expected that age classes with lower mortality would be recruited to the breeding population, but old individuals were greatly under-represented as breeders (< 10%). Our results pointed out that the breeding population was constituted mostly of young individuals (i.e., < 5 years old), suggesting high adult mortality because of contradictions between low mortality rates and low breeding recruitment.