Winter diet of a long-eared owl population in Ankara Beytepe

Abstract

In this study, the pellets of Long-eared owl (Asio otus) population that lived in Ankara, Beytepe between 2002 and 2003 has been analyzed and the diet components of that species have been examined. This species migrates to higher altitudes of the same region in Beytepe during winter and stays there for approximately two months. The data obtained from the examination of 346 pellets indicated that the mammal species are the main diet component of that species. Among those mammal species, the rodents have the highest proportion with 69.4%. According to the results of the research bird species are the second feeding group of that species with a proportion 26.85%. The findings are in general agreement with similar research elsewhere.