Feeding Ecology of the Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) Population in Soğuksu National Park (Kızılcahamam-Ankara, Türkiye)

Year 2025, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 26 - 30, 31.07.2025

Şafak Bulut , Burak Akbaba , Zafer Ayaş

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the feeding ecology of the Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) population in Soğuksu National Park, located in Central Anatolia, Türkiye. A total of 423 pellet samples were collected in 2014 and analyzed to identify prey remains to species level. The results revealed a diet dominated by small mammals, particularly Microtus subterraneus (29.1%) and Myodes glareolus (19.8%). Parallel small mammal trapping yielded 758 individuals and was used to assess prey availability. A moderate but non-significant correlation was found between the abundance of prey and their representation in the owl’s diet (r = 0.2955), suggesting that factors beyond numerical abundance, such as accessibility and habitat structure, influence prey selection. The calculated Levin’s index (6.87) indicates a moderate dietary breadth. These findings highlight the owl’s flexible foraging strategy in mosaic forest-steppe landscapes and support its use as an ecological indicator species in protected areas such as Soğuksu National Park.

Keywords

Tawny Owl , Strix aluco , pellet analysis , feeding ecology , Soğuksu National Park , small mammals , raptor

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