Insects in the diet of the tawny owl (Strix aluco) in forest areas of central and north-eastern Poland

Sklodowski J., Gryz J. 2012. Owady w pokarmie puszczyka (Strix alum) na terenach lesnych w srodkowej i polnocno-wschodniej Polsce. Sylwan 156 (1): 36-46. Studies on invertebrates in the diet of the tawny owl were carried out in Rogow, Kampinos and Bialowieza forests as well as in the mosaic ecosystems of Biebrza wetlands. Invertebrates were identified on the basis of their remnants found in the pellets. The aim of the study was to answer the two questions: (1) does the tawny owl select its invertebrate prey or is it an opportunist predator, (2) is it possible to characterize places where the owl preys just on the basis of the invertebrate species composition in its diet. As a result we found out that indeed the tawny owl was an opportunist predator towards invertebrates, and also that the invertebrate species composition found in the pellets was a good indicator of the type of hunting habitat as it showed that the owl caught invertebrates in various sites, i.e. tree hollows, rotten trunks, soil litter or open area.