Techniques for recording the Eagle owl (Bubo bubo) based on vocal activity

What is it about?

A new technique of eagle owl registration is offered based on acoustic signals recorded with the use of a portable digital voice recorder. The recorder allows recording the vocal activity of a large owl at a distance of 4 km from the place of installation to the screaming bird, depending on wind direction and speed, as well as on terrain relief. The continuous operation time of a recorder using one set of external alkaline batteries lasts about 140 hours. The method was tested in the conditions of the forested steppe zone in the Volga region. Applying this technique, at a preliminary stage 7 new nests and 17 additional nesting sites were revealed during one year alone. The older techniques of direction-finding and combing the area used earlier (2008–2014) spotted only 6 nests. The benefits of the new technique proposed lie in covering larger areas and saving time.

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Photo by Paul Ewing on Unsplash

Photo by Paul Ewing on Unsplash

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