Introduction
In the present study of winter diet of Long eared owl in Lombardy (North of Italy) we found a significant presence of bird prey. The 671 pellets analysed yielded 867 prey of which 48% were of the Aves class (20 different species).
Pellets were collected in four roosts: two located in urban habitat (a cemetery and a private garden), and the other ones in the woods of Parco Adda Nord and Parco del Serio. In the two roosts of Bergamo and Caravaggio the percentage of birds was very high (55% and 51%) and it confirms expansion of Long eared Owls in northern Italy is in relation with colonisation of new areas (even degradated ones - record of Simpson index for Italy is 0.870973). One Athene noctua (cemetery of Caravaggio) was the only non Passeriformes we found.
In the pellets of Bergamo roosts I found a most important predation of Chiroptera (see Table 1) in Italy.
A small curiosity (look the slides) : in 3 pellets I found 3 Rings of birds : 2 Turdus merula and 1 Erithacus rubecola!
Data Tables and Photos
Roost 1 - Bergamo Town (North Italy)
Roost 2 - Cemetery of Caravaggio
Roost 3 - Trezzo, Parco Adda Nord woods
Roost 4 - Zanica, Parco del Serio
Bergamo Town (North Italy)
1) foot of Turdus merula in Long-eared Owl pellet
Roost of Bergamo Town (North Italy) Table 1
N: number of prey B: biomass of prey
| Species | N | N% | B | B% |
| Pipistrellus Kuhlii | 17 | 12.4 | 170 | 4.9 |
| Chiroptera | 17 | 12.40% | 170 | 4.90% |
| Microtus arvalis | 1 | 0.72 | 27 | 0.782 |
| Microtus subterraneus | 1 | 0.72 | 20 | 0.579 |
| Microtus Savii | 3 | 2.17 | 54 | 1.56 |
| Microtus spp. | 2 | 1.44 | 42 | 1.21 |
| Rattus norvegicus | 1 | 0.72 | 100 | 2.89 |
| Rattus rattus | 2 | 1.44 | 200 | 5.79 |
| Rattus spp. | 3 | 2.17 | 300 | 8.69 |
| Apodemus sylvaticus | 17 | 12.31 | 357 | 10.3 |
| Apodemus flavicollis | 3 | 2.17 | 63 | 1.82 |
| Apodemus spp. | 3 | 2.17 | 63 | 1.82 |
| Mus musculus | 5 | 3.62 | 95 | 2.75 |
| Muridae indet. | 4 | 2.89 | 72 | 2.08 |
| Rodentia | 45 | 32.60% | 1393 | 40.36% |
| Mammalia (mammals) | 62 | 45% | 1563 | 45.29% |
| Troglodytes trogl. | 1 | 0.72 | 5 | 0.14 |
| Erithacus rubecola | 4 | 2.89 | 72 | 2.08 |
| Turdus merula | 5 | 3.62 | 450 | 13.03 |
| Regulus regulus | 5 | 3.62 | 25 | 0.72 |
| Parus major | 3 | 2.17 | 54 | 1.56 |
| Parus indet. | 2 | 1.44 | 36 | 1.043 |
| Parus caerulus | 4 | 2.89 | 52 | 1.506 |
| Passer domesticae it. | 19 | 13.76 | 532 | 15.41 |
| Passer montanus | 9 | 6.52 | 189 | 5.477 |
| Fringilla coelebs | 2 | 1.44 | 46 | 1.33 |
| Carduelis carduelis | 5 | 3.62 | 80 | 2.31 |
| Carduelis chloris | 1 | 0.72 | 27 | 0.78 |
| Passeriformes indet. | 16 | 11.5 | 320 | 9.27 |
| Aves (Birds) | 76 | 55% | 1888 | 54.70% |
| Total prey | 138 | 100% | 3451 | 100% |
2) Tarsus of Turdus merula with ring
Caravaggio
3) Pellet of Asio otus
Roost of Caravaggio Table 2
N: number of prey B: biomass of prey
| Species | n | N% | B | B% |
| Crocidura russula | 2 | 0.81 | 30 | 0.46 |
| Crocidura Luecodon | 5 | 2.02 | 50 | 0.77 |
| Sorex araneus | 2 | 0.81 | 20 | 0.31 |
| Insectivora | 9 | 3.66 | 100 | 1.55 |
| Clethrionomys glaer. | 5 | 2.02 | 105 | 1.63 |
| Microtus arvalis | 4 | 1.61 | 108 | 1.68 |
| Microtus Savii | 8 | 3.23 | 144 | 2.24 |
| Microtus spp. | 13 | 5.23 | 273 | 4.24 |
| Rattus norvegicus | 3 | 1.21 | 300 | 4.66 |
| Rattus rattus | 7 | 2.83 | 700 | 10.8 |
| Rattus spp. | 3 | 1.21 | 300 | 4.66 |
| Apodemus sylvaticus | 13 | 5.23 | 273 | 4.24 |
| Apodemus spp. | 10 | 4.04 | 210 | 3.26 |
| Micromys minutus | 12 | 4.85 | 84 | 1.3 |
| Mus musculus | 16 | 6.47 | 304 | 4.72 |
| muridae spp. | 19 | 7.69 | 342 | 5.32 |
| Rodentia | 113 | 45.7 | 3143 | 48.9 |
| Mammalia (Mammals) | 122 | 48.6% | 3243 | 50.5 |
| Athene noctua | 1 | 0.405 | 150 | 2.3 |
| Prunella modularis | 3 | 1.21 | 54 | 0.84 |
| Turdus merula | 5 | 2.02 | 450 | 7 |
| Turdus spp. | 3 | 1.21 | 270 | 4.24 |
| Erithacus rubecola | 5 | 2.02 | 90 | 1.4 |
| Parus caerelus | 6 | 2.42 | 78 | 1.21 |
| Parus major | 7 | 2.83 | 126 | 1.96 |
| Parus spp. | 8 | 3.23 | 144 | 2.44 |
| Passer domesticae it. | 12 | 4.85 | 336 | 5.22 |
| Passer montanus | 7 | 2.83 | 147 | 2.28 |
| Fringilla coelebs | 4 | 1.61 | 92 | 1.43 |
| carduelis chloris | 7 | 2.83 | 189 | 2.94 |
| Carduelis carduelis | 18 | 7.28 | 288 | 4.48 |
| Fringillidae spp. | 12 | 4.85 | 192 | 2.98 |
| Passeriformes indet. | 29 | 11.7 | 580 | 9.02 |
| Aves (Birds) | 127 | 51.40% | 3186 | 49.50% |
| Total prey | 247 | 100% | 6429 | 100% |
Trezzo
4) Pellet of Asio otus with ring of Turdus merula
Roost of Trezzo Table 3
N: number of prey B: biomass of prey
| species | N | N% | B | B% |
| Muscardinus avellinarius | 5 | 1.67 | 120 | 1.597 |
| Clethrionomys glaerolus | 9 | 3.01 | 189 | 2.51 |
| Microtus savii | 2 | 0.66 | 36 | 0.479 |
| Microtus subterraneus | 2 | 0.66 | 40 | 0.53 |
| Microtus spp. | 12 | 4.01 | 252 | 3.35 |
| Apodemus sylvaticus | 35 | 11.7 | 735 | 9.78 |
| Apodemus spp. | 22 | 7.35 | 462 | 6.15 |
| Micromys minutus | 15 | 5.01 | 105 | 1.39 |
| Rattus norvegicus | 2 | 0.66 | 200 | 2.66 |
| Rattus rattus | 7 | 2.34 | 700 | 9.31 |
| Rattus spp. | 3 | 1.003 | 300 | 3.99 |
| Mus musculus | 28 | 9.36 | 532 | 7.08 |
| Muridae spp. | 26 | 8.69 | 468 | 6.23 |
| Mammalia (Mammals) | 168 | 56.18% | 4139 | 55.09% |
| Prunella modularis | 1 | 0.33 | 18 | 0.23 |
| Erithacus rubecola | 9 | 3.01 | 162 | 2.15 |
| Turdus merula | 3 | 1.003 | 270 | 3.59 |
| Turdus pilaris | 1 | 0.33 | 85 | 1.31 |
| Turdus spp. | 2 | 0.66 | 170 | 2.26 |
| Sylvia atricapilla | 7 | 2.34 | 105 | 1.397 |
| Parus major | 4 | 1.337 | 72 | 0.95 |
| Passer domesticus ital. | 42 | 14.04 | 1176 | 15.6 |
| Passer montanus | 19 | 6.35 | 399 | 5.31 |
| Fringilla coelebs | 9 | 3.01 | 207 | 2.75 |
| Carduelis chloris | 9 | 3.01 | 243 | 3.23 |
| Carduelis carduelis | 6 | 2.006 | 96 | 1.27 |
| Carduelis spinus | 1 | 0.33 | 10 | 0.13 |
| passeriformes indet. | 18 | 6.02 | 360 | 4.79 |
| Aves (Birds) | 131 | 43.81% | 3373 | 44.90% |
| Total prey | 299 | 100% | 7512 | 100% |
Zanica
5) View of Zanica roost near the Serio's river
Roost of Zanica Table 4
N: number of prey B: biomass of prey
| species | n | n % | B | B% |
| Erithacus rubecola | 4 | 2.18 | 72 | 1.25 |
| Turdus merula | 8 | 4.37 | 720 | 12.5 |
| Parus major | 1 | 0.54 | 18 | 0.31 |
| Sturnus vulgaris | 13 | 7.1 | 910 | 15.90% |
| Passer domesticus it | 15 | 8.19 | 420 | 7.34 |
| Passer montanus | 4 | 2.18 | 84 | 1.46 |
| Fringilla coelebs | 3 | 1.639 | 69 | 1.2 |
| Serinus serinus | 3 | 1.639 | 45 | 0.78 |
| Carduelis chloris | 7 | 3.82 | 189 | 3.3 |
| Carduelis carduelis | 4 | 2.18 | 64 | 1.11 |
| Aves indet. | 15 | 8.19 | 300 | 5.2 |
| Aves | 77 | 42% | 2891 | 50.50% |
| Crocidura leucodon | 2 | 1.09 | 20 | 0.349 |
| Muscardinus avellinarius | 2 | 1.09 | 48 | 0.83 |
| Clethrionomys glaerolus | 1 | 0.54 | 21 | 0.36 |
| Microtus arvalis | 2 | 1.09 | 54 | 0.94 |
| Microtus Savii | 7 | 3.82 | 126 | 2.204 |
| Microtus spp. | 8 | 4.37 | 168 | 2.939 |
| Apodemus sylvat. | 15 | 8.19 | 315 | 5.51 |
| Apodemus spp. | 18 | 9.8 | 378 | 6.61 |
| Micromys minutus | 6 | 3.279 | 42 | 0.73 |
| Rattus norvegicus | 3 | 1.639 | 300 | 5.2 |
| Rattus rattus | 2 | 1.09 | 200 | 3.499 |
| Rattus spp. | 5 | 2.73 | 500 | 8.7 |
| Mus musculus | 22 | 12.02 | 418 | 7.31 |
| Muridae spp. | 13 | 7.103 | 234 | 4.09 |
| Mammalia | 106 | 58% | 2824 | 49.50% |
| Total prey | 183 | 100% | 5715 | 100% |
Acknowledgements
Special Thanks to Anna Barbagallo and Enrico Bassi for this study and Tea Sala, Davide De Vecchi, Francesca Galizzi for your help on field.
And special thanks to Claudia Savio for your help in translate and Gianna Dondini and Simone Vergari (Natural Hist. Museum of Florence) and Paolo Gaelotti (University of Pavia, Dept. Of Animal Biology) for your help.
