Urban benefits on Burrowing owls' breeding biology in the SE Pampas ecoregion (Argentina)

BO MS; BALADRÓN A; CAVALLI M; ISACCH J

Puerto Iguazú, Misiones

Congreso; Ornithological Congress of the Americas; 2017

Urban habitats represent adaptive challenges for many species given the intense modification of native environmental conditions. On the other side, urban habitats also represent a relaxation in predation pressures and an attenuation of extreme climatic conditions. Consequently, certain species might perceive urban habitats as ecological opportunities that would allow them to be successful in their reproduction and to expand their distribution range. The Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) is a small size raptor that has managed to live in modified habitats. This species is frequently found in natural and rural habitats as well as in urban areas. Our aim was to study and to compare reproductive parameters, reproductive chronology and reproductive behaviour of Burrowing owls in urban and rural habitats in order to understand how this species manage to live in urban habitats. Then we monitored urban and rural owl nests by using an infrared camera and HD video cameras. Productivity was similar between habitats, but urban owls were more successful than rural ones. In addition, breeding season was longer in urban environments. In general, rural owls tended to spend more time being alert than urban ones indicating a difference in predator pressure between environments. All these results indicate that the urban habitats represent opportunities for Burrowing owls and its characteristics would allow them to reach a better breeding performance.