The chicks hatched as part of the conservation program promoted by the Ministry of the Environment and the BIOPARC Foundation are beginning the final stage of their development in a reintroduction nest box in Valencia. Video surveillance shows, in real time, the curious behavior of these unmistakable birds with their heart-shaped white faces. The initiative aims to protect biodiversity and represents a significant step forward in the recovery of the barn owl, listed as vulnerable in the Valencian Community and a key ally in rodent pest control.
The loss of biodiversity is one of the great environmental challenges of our time. In this situation, collaboration between institutions committed to the nature preservation It is fundamental to promoting projects that reverse this trend and favor the recovery of the environment. Within this context lies the work carried out by the BIOPARC Foundation and the Ministry of Environment, Infrastructure, Territory and Recovery of the Valencian Government, resulting from the Agreement for the protection of threatened native species, as is the case of the Iberian ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl), the European pond turtle (orbicularis emys), the bat and, now, the common owl (Tyto alba), all of them essential for Mediterranean ecosystems.
Common Owl Conservation Project
Currently, the project has five pairs of this fascinating bird that have been cared for for eight months by BIOPARC Valencia technical staff in facilities specifically designed to guarantee their well-being and the proper development of their breeding. twenty chicks Those born this season have begun the final phase of their development through the hacking techniquewhich consists of using nest boxes specially conditioned for to encourage reintroductionGrowth occurs by avoiding human contact so that they go acquiring their natural behaviors essential for their survival.
Reintroduction of owls using the hacking technique
This facility has a video surveillance system This allows for constant monitoring of the owls without interfering with their behavior. Thanks to this monitoring, the progress of the chicks, which have already begun to venture outside, can be observed. They will remain in this enclosure. until they reach sufficient autonomy to feed themselves, with the aim of achieving their definitive reintegration into the peri-urban areas of Valencia.
With its unmistakable white, heart-shaped face, its silent flight, and its extraordinary sensory capabilities, The barn owl is an indicator of environmental qualityIt plays an essential role in the balance of the ecosystem, acting as a natural pest controller, since it is estimated that an adult specimen can consume around 1.000 rodents per year.
A milestone in the recovery of the barn owl
For this reason, this advance marks a milestone in the recovery of the common owlPresent in rural areas across virtually the entire country, this species is classified as "Vulnerable" in the Valencian Community, according to the Valencian Catalogue of Threatened Fauna Species. Its precarious situation is mainly due to changes in agriculture, increased use of biocides, a lack of suitable nesting sites, and roadkill.
From BIOPARC Foundation These actions are also promoted education platforms of society The return of this delicate bird of prey to the Valencian skies offers many people the opportunity to learn more about it. knowledge of our biodiversityunderstanding and supporting the need to protect nature.
