Small gods on a special mission

Within Gorička krajina project, project partner DOPPS-BirdLife Slovenia in 2021 continued with the research of the habitat selection of the scops owl. The main aim of the research is to evaluate
the protection measures with a GPS telemetry method. In 2021, like in 2020, scops owls started breeding late in season, so the research has been delayed into July.


This years heroes  K. Denac

The scops owl is a nocturnal bird and therefore their research requires the use of special methods. The advantage of using GPS telemetry is the high accuracy of recording locations that cannot be determined by basic research methods.

Selena, Bia, Cibela, Niks and Persephone and males Kronos, Had and Morpheus are in 2021 on a special scientific research mission. All owls have the Greek god names. This tradition was started already in 2012 within the Upkač project, when the first ecological research of this owl was carried out in Goričko. Because of the proverbial wisdom of owls and their exceptional abilities, it is fitting that the names are divinely appropriate.


Scops owl with GPS device on its back  K. Denac

GPS telemetry method requires ornithologist to capture the scops owl prior to GPS installation on their backs. GPS devices weigh only few grams and are therefore harmless to birds. Same birds have to be re-caught a week later for removal of the devices with GPS data. Only breeding scops owls are equipped with GPS loggers, as the probability of re-catching the same birds is much higher. The results of this years research will be presented by experts in the autumn, when breeding success in 2021 in Goričko will also be known. 


Chicks of one of the breeding pairs  A. Cigan