Filenews 17 December 2023
In the framework of the "Pandoteira" project, another release of owls was recently organized and artificial nests were recently placed in the framework of the "Pandoteira" project.
Owls, are very beneficial for agriculture, as they feed mainly on rodents. They are a natural and harmless way of biological control of the rodent population, unlike rodenticides which can harm other animals as well as humans.
The released owls had previously been treated and cared for at the Game and Fauna Service's Wildlife Care and Rehabilitation Centre. Before their release, all birds were ringed, a necessary practice before each release, so that if they are found again they will give us information about their movements, age and condition. The event was organised as part of the Pandoteira project by the Game and Fauna Service, BirdLife Cyprus and Terra Cypria.
Nikolaos Kasinis (Game and Fauna Service) and Antaia Christou (BirdLife Cyprus) write about the danger to Cyprus' wildlife and the detection of high rates of rodent residues in predatory birds on our island:
Previous studies have shown that species that are not targets of rat poison, such as birds of prey, are at risk mainly from secondary poisoning, feeding on infected rodents. The owl has been classified as a marker species (sentinel in English renders it better) to indicate the level of exposure to 2nd generation rodenticides in small mammal predators in UK agricultural areas and elsewhere. 2nd generation rodenticides have been detected in owls around the world. Laboratory monitoring of these levels in the livers of owls in Britain showed high exposure to rodenticides from the 1980s, 1990s until today with a high frequency of residues in them.
Situation in Cyprus
The Game and Fauna Service in collaboration with the General Chemical State Laboratory, through a survey conducted on samples mainly from owls but also other predators during the period 2018-2020, showed high rates of rodent residues in predatory birds in Cyprus.
The alarming results of this first survey on rat poison rates in birds in Cyprus led to a new, systematic effort. Specifically, in the framework of the "Pandoteira" project, the Game and Fauna Service in collaboration with BirdLife Cyprus, implement actions for the protection of birds through which data are collected on the extent and severity of secondary poisoning of predators by chemicals such as rat poisons. Specifically, between 2022 – early 2023, they collected a large number of dead raptors from all over Cyprus, most of them owls (owls and bears). This important sample was examined by a specialized laboratory of the General Chemical State Laboratory.
The General Chemical State Laboratory and the Game and Fauna Service, through a Memorandum of Understanding, cooperate in identifying poisons, rodent residues and other dangerous chemicals in the wildlife of Cyprus. Similar research will be conducted in 2023, while the measurable results of the survey will be used to make management decisions for the protection of species.
Research and next steps
The results showed that more than 75% of samples tested positive for a rodenticide substance, while several samples tested positive for more than one substance. The graph below presents the full picture of the analyses by species: The results so far are alarming, with a very high percentage of samples being positive. They show, through these indicator birds, that the use in the Cypriot environment of these substances is widespread and affects protected species throughout the territory of Cyprus. The birds in which residues have been found were mainly Owls, which due to their diet (96% of which are rodents based on research done in Cyprus) are easier to accumulate these poisonous substances in their body. High percentages were also detected in other predatory species such as Arkothoupi, Buzzards and Bonelli's Eagles, where a significant percentage of their diet also consists of rodents.
This action will continue until 2025 with the analysis of new samples. Based on the results, it will be examined which rodenticides are the most toxic to wild birds and suggestions will be made regarding their prohibition, reduction of use, or conditions of application/use.
Biological control of rodents
In Cyprus, efforts are being made to promote biological control of rodent numbers through artificial nests for owls. Given the synanthropic nature of the species (it nests in areas with human presence and activity) and the largest percentage of its diet that is rodents. Within the framework of the National Action Plan for the biological control of rodents using the man-bird, in which, apart from the Game and Fauna Service and BirdLife Cyprus, the Department of Forests, the Department of Agriculture and the Veterinary Services also participate, more than 1000 such nests have been placed to date.
An effort is also made to inform farmers, hunters, communities, students, and the public in general about the benefits of this effort while reducing the placement of chemicals such as rodenticides. With this in mind, a release of owls and the installation of artificial nests for these important birds was recently organized within the framework of the Pandoteira project. Specifically, this action took place on December 8, 2023, in the area of Oroklini.
The process of releasing and placing artificial nests took place in the presence of children from the Oroklini Elementary School. The children also had the opportunity to learn about the importance of the Natura 2000 Network, as well as to observe through a stereoscope microscopic invertebrates, while learning their importance in the ecosystem. This action was organised as part of the Pandoteira project by the Game and Fauna Service, BirdLife Cyprus and Terra Cypria.
