Originally Posted by
Lingland
I used to see wrens quite often and if I couldnt see them I would hear them but sadly not for some time. I have been blameing sparrowhasks for my small bird decline but yesterday sitting in a tree I spotted a long eared owl he outsat me it was wonderful to see. Do they eat wee birds as well as small rodents I wonder?
Hi Lingland,
As Nirofo said the decline in numbers of small birds like wrens is more to do with two harsh winters than predation but LEO will take birds as prey. Analysis of LEO pellets from the UK showed that birds made up 12.8% of prey items with species ranging in size from goldcrest to moorhen but was usually sparrows, thrushes and starlings. Of course the majority of LEO prey was terrestrial mammals but 0.1% was other items such as bats and frogs. Analysis of pellets from other parts of Europe indicated birds were a much smaller proportion of their diet.
Iain
Latest Lifer: #4164 - Madagascar Rail (Rallus madagascariensis) - Mantadia, Madagascar (09/10/10)
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