Unfortunately the have been really endangered here, and even though we have a few Owl Trusts and such, seems that the general public is still not aware about the actual existence of these birds (not to mention their importance) in the town... probably because they are simply nocturnal animals and one rarely gets so see them, so you know how it goes, if you don't see it, it doesn't exist...
Anyways, I have these two lovely FDCs for today, issued by the Serbian Post on 16th March this year, featuring in total 4 lovely owls:
First we have the Little Owl (Athene noctua) on the left stamp and the Barn Owl (Tyto Alba) on the right one.
The Little owl is a small owl (logically) that prefers to live near people. It chooses open and mosaic habitats with scattered trees, pastures, rockeries,, abandoned buildings, orchards, parks, farms, human settlements. It hunts large insects and small mammals, rarely amphibians and earth-worms. Little owl does not build a nest but uses natural cavities in trees, walls, cliffs and attics. It accepts specially designed nesting boxes. It nests from April to June. In Serbia there are 14,300 to 21, 000 nesting pairs, and the population is stable.
The Barn owl is a medium size owl with a prominent heart-shaped face. It nests mainly in the lowlands of Serbia. Estimated population in Serbia is 3,400 - 5,100 pairs and slightly decreasing. The Barn owl chooses open habitats with plenty of grasslands where rich food sources are found. Often, it resides in human settlements. The main prey of this owl are voles, mice, rats and shrews. It nests in attics, holes in the walls, hollows of trees, or stacks of straw. It accepts specially designed nesting boxes. Barn owls nest usually once a year, but when food is plentiful, there can be two clutches.
*lesson learned - we use 'clutch' when it comes to owls (the complicated English language)
On the second FDC we have the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) on the left, and the Scops Owl (Otus scops) on the right.
The Long-eared owl is a medium sized owl that lives throughout Serbia, from lowlands to high mountains, It feeds mainly on small rodents such as voles and mice. They do not build nests, but use or take over old nests of magpies, crows and other birds. It nests from mid-March until the end of June. The estimated population in Serbia is 19,000 to 28,000 pairs and moderately increasing. During winter, Long-eared owls gather in large roosts, that can count hundreds of individuals, mostly staying in human settlements.
The Scoops owl is the only true migratory bird among the owls that live in Serbia, from the lowlands to the hilly and mountainous areas. Habitats are open and semi-open with single trees or small groves, parks, gardens, rockeries. The main prey of the Scops owl are large insects, such as grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and moths. It mostly chooses tree cavities for the nest, rarely man-made objects or nests of other birds. It gladly accepts bird-boxes. Nesting is from April to June. The estimated population in Serbia is 27,500 to 43, 500 pairs and stable.
Thanks a million to my Serbian partner in crime for these ❤❤❤❤
And for more O-related posts, visit today's edition of Sunday Stamps!
And for more O-related posts, visit today's edition of Sunday Stamps!
Lovely FDCs. Magical when hearing owls at night, and always a treat to see one.
ReplyDeleteA great topic for O, owls always seem fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMagnificent birds and great stamps. We have an owl in a sycamore tree from time to time outside on of our bedroom windows - can hear it but never actually seen it.
ReplyDeleteIn the former house we lived, we heard an owl every night, in the winter. It was on the tree in front of the house. But we almost never see it!
ReplyDeleteNice covers, by the way.