The Great Horned Owl Bubo bubo is the largest nocturnal bird of prey in the world. The female is larger than the male and can reach a wingspan of 168 cm.
Easily recognizable with its large orange eyes, it also has two ear tufts that can measure up to 8 cm.
This bird of prey is opportunistic: it feeds mainly on rodents, but can attack larger prey such as rabbits, birds, and even foxes! This diverse diet is of particular interest to naturalists. The eagle owl cannot digest bones or hair. As a result, it regurgitates them in the form of pellets. These pellets are generally 10 cm long. By dissecting these pellets, it is possible to identify the species of rodents and animals consumed, particularly thanks to their skulls and jaws. This makes it possible to compile an inventory of locally present prey species, particularly for discreet species such as micromammals.
As the eagle owl is sedentary, regular pellet collections allow us to track the evolution of its prey over time.
This is what the A Rocha France team has been doing in the Ilon nature reserve for the past four years. This year, the team was even able to film (video coming soon – screenshot below) this nocturnal giant in front of its lair for the first time. They hope that the eagle owl will reveal some of its secrets!
