Long-term decline of the Little Owl (Athene noctua Scop., 1769) in Central Poland

The population of Little Owl decreased over much of Europe including Poland, where it's status has not yet been elucidated in full. We compiled data from 13 censuses carried out from 1982-2005 at a 12 km2 study plot situated in an agricultural area in the north-western outskirts of warsaw in Central Poland. We observed a significant decline in the Little Owl population, leading to its disappearance from the study site. The population dynamics was not correlated with the weather factors analysed (snow cover and thickness, air temperature for December-March period, precipitation for March, May and June), which indicates that climate change was not a direct cause of the decline. There were no substantial changes in the land use structure at the study area. We conclude that the reduction in nesting sites and decreased food availability are the potential factors of the Little Owl decline.