The Eagle Owl is one of the largest owls in the world, and is considered the most eclectic in terms of habitat, nest site and diet. An undisputed top predator, it can prey on a range of mammals up to the size of a fox, and almost every species of bird, reptile, amphibian and fish, as well as a wide spectrum of invertebrates. Surprisingly, this owl can breed almost anywhere, the female laying her eggs on a variety of natural and artificial structures over an array of altitudes. Despite being so adaptable, however, it is still a vulnerable species, and has suffered widely from persecution as well as other threats including electrocution on power lines, decreasing prey availability, the effects of pesticides and pollutants, and habitat alteration. Vincenzo Penteriani and María del Mar Delgado have studied this fascinating bird extensively across its vast Eurasian range. In this book, they detail its intriguing ecology, covering distribution, foraging and breeding behaviour, interspecific interactions, dispersal and conservation issues. The final two chapters provide a remarkable insight into vocal and visual communication. Scientists have long believed that owls and other crepuscular and nocturnal birds forgo the visual signals found in other avian species, but recent research on the Eagle Owl has suggested otherwise. Bringing together more than 30 years of research, The Eagle Owl tells a story rich in detail of one of the most thrilling and magnificent birds in the world.
The Eagle Owl is one of the biggest owls in the world and is considered the most eclectic in terms of habitat, nest site and diet. An undisputed top predator, it can prey on a range of mammals up to the size of foxes, and almost every species of bird, reptile, amphibian and fish, as well as a large spectrum of invertebrates. Surprisingly, it can also breed almost anywhere, laying its eggs on a variety of natural and artificial structures over an array of altitudes. Yet, despite being so adaptable, it is still a vulnerable species and has suffered widely from persecution as well as other threats including electrocution on power lines, decreasing prey availability, the effects of pesticides and pollutants, and habitat alteration. Vincenzo Penteriani and María del Mar Delgado have studied this fascinating bird extensively across its vast Eurasian range. In this book, they detail its remarkable ecology: distribution, breeding behaviour, foraging ecology, interspecific interactions, dispersal and conservation issues are all addressed, while the final two chapters provide a remarkable insight into vocal and visual communication. Scientists have long believed that owls and other crepuscular and nocturnal birds forgo the visual signals found in other avian species, but research on the Eagle Owl has indicated otherwise.
“Fans of all that is wizardly will love this one.”—School Library Journal. “Lavishly illustrated throughout...the first of its kind, a fabulous fantasy and a how-to crafts book in one.”—Hobby Merchandiser.
Owls are soft-plumaged, short-tailed, big-headed birds that have the most frontally situated eyes of all birds and they can blink the upper eyelids. This, together with a broad facial disc, gives owls all the right characteristics to make them attractive in our eyes. At the same time, some people fear their presence and even their calls, and there are more myths and beliefs about owls than there are about any other bird.Bats are often similarly feared as owls, partly because both of them inhabit the night; a place that is unknown and alien to us. Owls and bats symbolise all that is mysterious about the night and their complete mastery of the darkness only highlights our own deficiencies. In this book, we will get to know the relationships between bats and owls. This book describes the biological control of rats by owls in Malaysia, the prey-predator interactions in a tropical forest in Mexico, and provides an overview of the breeding biology of owls. From numerous owl belief and myth studies, described in this book are those of the lesser known Central Asian countries where owls are often worshipped for their supernatural powers.
This monograph is about predation in vertebrate animal community. The studies were done in the seminatural terrains with transitional mixed forest within the European forest zone in Belarus. The result part was organised as a top-down flow: First, the community characteristics related to predators were estimated. I presented data on predator species richness, population density and biomass with special attention paid to the changes in predator species diversity occurred during the last two centuries and particularly in connection with the American mink and raccoon dog naturalization. Then, the main features of predator food niches were given, and the structure of various predator guilds and size structure in predators were analysed. The next part of the monograph was devoted to examining of community-important factors acting in semi-natural terrains. Such factors affected either the whole community or its marked fragment. The last quite a large part of the monograph consisted of many chapters which present more or less essential results on different predator species, and stresses hot questions of their population ecology.
Owls For Kids - Amazing Animal Books For Young Readers Table of Contents Introduction What are owls? What do owls look like? What do owls eat? Where do owls live? True owls versus barn owls Northern hawk-owl Burrowing owl Barking owl Great horned owl Eurasian eagle-owl Fearful owl Barn owl Snowy owl Conclusion Author Bio Introduction Something about owls excites the human imagination. For a very long time, owls have been the symbols of wisdom in some cultures. They are also considered omens of bad luck in others. It was the symbol of the Ancient Greek goddess Athena, and in recent times a picture or figure of an owl has been popular as jewelry. But the owl is a creature that is not mysterious, with a little research. They behave a lot like other birds that hunt, only most of them do it at night. If you've ever wondered about the sometimes cherished, sometimes feared creature of the night, there's a lot you can learn about the owl, in all its different forms.
A marvelously illustrated look at the most deadly predators on the planet Tooth and Claw presents the world’s top predators as you have never seen them before, from big cats and wild dogs to sharks, reptiles, and killer whales. Blending gorgeous photos and illustrations with spellbinding storytelling, this book is packed with the latest facts about these fearsome but often misunderstood animals. It covers apex and other top predators in each major vertebrate family, discussing where and how they live, how they are faring in the modern world, and why they matter. Along the way, the authors share informative and entertaining anecdotes from their decades in the field learning about predators and reveal hard truths about the role humans continue to play in their fate. Tooth and Claw also describes conservation successes and lays out some simple but crucial steps each of us can take to protect these magnificent beasts. Are humans top predators, too? Read this amazing book and find out. Offers an unparalleled look at a side of nature rarely witnessed up close Stunningly illustrated throughout and brimming with fun facts Describes ultimate vertebrate predators ranging from sharks and reptiles to raptors, cats, dogs, bears, and marine mammals Provides rare insights into the biology, ecology, and conservation of top predators Draws on the latest findings from habitats around the world Conveys the wonders of the natural world with engaging storytelling and lively personal anecdotes
