New data about breeding success of the Eurasian Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo in the Oasis “Gravina di Laterza” (Apulia, Italy)

Abstract

The Eurasian Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo is considered a globally declining species. Except for the Alps regions, the Eurasian Eagle Owl is irregularly distributed throughout Italy. Knowledge in Apulia and Basilicata is lacking, particularly in the Gravine Area, where sporadic sightings have been documented in recent decades. The aim of this work is to update information about the status of the Eurasian Eagle Owl in the area of the Lipu Oasis “Gravina di Laterza” and try to estimate the minimum number of reproductive pairs. The study was developed over the years 2020 to 2023 by multiple methods, such as playback, camera trapping, and listening to spontaneous singing. Five monitoring stations were located in
relation to various factors considered in the literature to be of primary importance for the owl. The first year a response was obtained from a male individual. In the same spot, in the following years, calls from a female and subsequently from two young individuals were recorded. A male individual was repeatedly filmed by camera trap. It is therefore believed that a stable reproductive pair of the species is present in the study area.