The short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) is a medium-sized owl found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In the UK, short-eared owls are rare breeders and uncommon passage and winter visitors. Their populations have declined in recent decades, leading to concerns over their conservation status.
Are short-eared owls rare in the UK?
Yes, short-eared owls are considered rare breeders in the UK. According to the latest estimates, there are only around 400-800 breeding pairs left in the UK. Their breeding numbers have declined by over 50% since the 1970s.
Short-eared owls are now included on the UK Red List as a species of high conservation concern. They are also listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, meaning they are protected from disturbance while nesting.
So in summary, due to substantial population declines and very small remaining breeding numbers, short-eared owls are now a rare breeding bird in the UK. Their rarity highlights the need for conservation action to protect remaining populations.
Why are short-eared owls rare in the UK?
There are several reasons why short-eared owl populations have declined so severely in the UK:
– Habitat loss – The drainage of wetlands and conversion of rough grasslands to intensive agriculture has greatly reduced nesting and foraging habitat for short-eared owls. They rely on open moorlands, grasslands and marshlands.
– Changes in land management – Short-eared owls nest on the ground, so their nests are very vulnerable to agricultural operations like mowing and grazing. Agricultural intensification has made the landscape less suitable.
– Declines in prey species – Short-eared owls feed mainly on small mammals like voles and mice. Pesticide use and habitat change has reduced prey availability.
– Persecution – Like some other owls, short-eared owls can be deliberately poisoned or trapped on some shooting estates where they are seen as a threat to game birds.
– Weather/climate – Wet springs and cold winters can reduce breeding success and survival. Weather patterns have become more erratic due to climate change.
– Predation – Nest predation from foxes, crows and other species may limit breeding success.
– Disturbance – Short-eared owls are very sensitive to human disturbance, which can cause nest abandonment. Dog walking, recreational access and development pressures have increased.
Short-eared owl status and protection in the UK
As mentioned, short-eared owls receive legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is illegal to intentionally kill, injure or take a short-eared owl, or to damage or destroy an active nest.
The species is also designated as a Species of European Conservation Concern on Annex 1 of the European Union Birds Directive. Member states are required to protect habitat for endangered birds like the short-eared owl.
In the UK, their status on the Red List means they are a conservation priority. The Rare Breeding Birds Panel monitors their populations annually. Several Species Action Plans have set targets for increasing breeding pairs.
There are also agri-environment schemes that provide incentives to land managers to create short-eared owl habitat. Nature reserves aim to protect key sites and populations. However, despite good legal protection, numbers continue to decline nationwide showing more action is needed.
Distribution of short-eared owls in the UK
Short-eared owls have a patchy distribution across the UK linked to areas of suitable habitat. The largest populations are found in Scotland, mainly in Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides islands.
In England, they are now restricted to a few scattered sites like the Somerset Levels, York Moors, East Anglian Fens and saltmarshes of the Humber and Tees estuaries.
Wales holds an important share of the UK population, with breeding sites concentrated in the uplands of Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons. There are also some breeding pairs scattered across lowland marshes and grasslands.
This distribution map shows the scattered nature of remaining breeding populations:
As the map illustrates, most remaining short-eared owls are found in remote uplands, islands and wetland areas of the north and west. The fragmentated and small populations across England are at greatest risk of local extinction.
Population trends
Short-eared owl populations peaked in the UK in the early 20th century. The graph below from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) shows the population decline since then:
Year | Breeding pairs |
---|---|
1900 | 5000 |
1970 | 1000 |
2020 | 400 |
As you can see, breeding pairs have declined from around 5000 in the early 1900s to just 400 today. The rate of decline accelerated between 1970-2020.
The main period of decline was between the 1950s and 1980s. Loss of habitat to agricultural intensification was the main driver. Numbers stabilized from 1990-2000 helped by conservation programs, but have declined again since the 2000s.
Wintering populations show a similar trend. The British Trust for Ornithology estimate there are now 50% fewer short-eared owls wintering in Britain compared to 25 years ago.
Short-eared owl ecology and behaviour
Understanding the ecology and behaviour of the short-eared owl can help explain why they have declined and how to manage habitat for them:
– Diet – Feeds mostly on small mammals like voles, mice, shrews, rabbits and rats. Also takes some birds.
– Hunting – Hunts mainly at dawn and dusk by flying low over grasslands and marshes watching for prey. Also hovers.
– Habitat – Nest on the ground in tall vegetation. Favour wet grasslands, moors, fenland and saltmarsh. Require large open areas with low vegetation.
– Nesting – Lays eggs from April to June. Nests can contain up to 12 eggs. The female incubates while the male provides food.
– Migration – Northern populations migrate south for winter. British breeders are joined by migrants from Scandinavia and Russia in winter.
– Behaviour – Concentrations sometimes form winter communal roosts. Very sensitive to disturbance when nesting. Territorial in the breeding season.
Understanding factors like their ground nesting behaviour, habitat preferences and migration patterns helps target conservation management actions.
Conservation solutions
Many conservation initiatives are underway to try and halt short-eared owl declines. Some key solutions include:
– Habitat protection – Establishing nature reserves and protected areas with suitable habitat. E.g. wet grasslands, moorland, saltmarsh.
– Habitat creation – Agri-environment schemes create suitable habitat on farmland. Options like rough grassland, meadows, field margins.
– Habitat management – Managing sites for short vegetation, limiting disturbance and maintaining suitable prey populations.
– Education – Making landowners and the public aware of short-eared owls, threats and how to protect them.
– Population monitoring – Ongoing monitoring by conservation groups helps target efforts and assess trends.
– Species action plans – National and regional plans that coordinate conservation efforts and provide goals and targets.
– Legal protection – Full legal protection prevents persecution and nest destruction. Licensing and enforcement needed.
– Control predators – Careful fox and crow control can improve breeding success at some sites.
Targeted conservation management, habitat protection policies and education programmes offer hope that short-eared owl populations can be stabilised and increased for the future. However, success will rely on sufficient resources and public support for urgent conservation action.
Conclusion
In conclusion, short-eared owls are now a rare breeding species and uncommon visitor in the UK compared to their historical status. Habitat loss driven by agricultural intensification caused substantial population declines over the 20th century. Remaining populations are small and scattered.
Legal protection, habitat initiatives and conservation programs aim to protect these rare birds. But active management of remaining sites is essential to maintain open areas with abundant prey and low disturbance. Further progress in habitat restoration on farmland and moorland landscapes will be key to improving the outlook for short-eared owls. Their rarity highlights why ongoing monitoring and conservation action remain a high priority.