Cornish Biodiversity Network  -  Supporting Wildlife Recording

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Cornish Red Data (2009)

The descriptive text, below the map, is from the Cornish Red Data Book (2009). The map on this web page depicts the organisms distribution and shows the records made pre-2000 and those made since.

Athene noctua - Little Owl



Range & Status

Palearctic; in Britain and Ireland introduced from 1870 onwards, with at least 8000 pairs (2000), now decreasing.

Regional Distribution

Cornwall: started to become established about 1920, widespread and locally quite numerous by the 1940s; however a decrease began in the late 1960s, continuing throughout the next 20 years; perhaps no more than ten pairs present 1993, with continued decline since perhaps nearer five by 2005 (in valley systems and coastal areas of east Cornwall). Isles of Scilly: absent.

Habitat & Ecology

Associated with low-lying, rather open habitats, with scattered trees; nesting in old barns, hollow trees and cliff crevices. Feeds primarily on invertebrates and small rodents.

Threats

Loss of disused barns, as well as the felling of dead trees and ploughing of rough grassland, might be causes of the decrease but the true reasons are unclear.

Conservation

Controls on the restoration of old barns.

Source:

I.J. Bennallick, S. Board, C.N. French, P.A. Gainey, C. Neil, R. Parslow, A. Spalding and P.E. Tompsett. eds. 2009. Red Data Book for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 2nd Edition.Croceago Press.

The Cornish Red Data Book Project was led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Federation for Biological Recorders (CISFBR). The full text and species accounts (minus the maps) are available on the CISFBR website.