Tichodroma (Dec 2018)
Početnosť a rozšírenie kuvika obyčajného (Athene noctua) v Rimavskej kotline (južné Slovensko) / The abundance and distribution of Little Owl (Athene noctua) in Rimavská kotlina Basin (S Slovakia)
Abstract
The abundance and distribution of Little Owl was monitored in Rimavská kotlina Basin (central Slovakia) in the years 2015–2017 using visual observations, recording of spontaneous calls and playback of male territorial calls. Altogether 172 sites in 102 municipalities were mapped. There were 45 pairs detected, 16 pairs in the valleys of the rivers Rimava and Slaná, respectively, 8 in the valley of Blh, 2 pairs in the valley of Turiec and Valická valley, and 1 pair in the valley of Sokolí potok. 57.8% of the pairs were detected in farmyards and agricultural buildings and 42.2% were detected in residential buildings and churches. The total number of breeding pairs of Little Owls in the area was estimated at 45–65 pairs, with the density of 0.55–0.79 pairs/10 km2 (1 pair/12.66–18.29 km2). The Little Owl had been monitored on a part of the area of the Rimavská kotlina Basin also in 2011. Then, the species was present at 19 sites of 49 checked. During this survey, there were 18 pairs detected at these sites. This suggests that the population of the species in the area was at the time of the study quite stable.
