Ecology and Conservation of Owls

The world's owls have become focal species in the conservation movement because some, like the Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) and Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis), are tied to old growth forests and have been adversely affected by the new generation of rodenticides which are more toxic and persistent than old ones and have the potential to cause secondary poisoning to rodent predators.

Owls in Australia are difficult to find and study, so comparitively little is known about their biology.

Even less is known about the statues, taxonomy, and biology of those species and sub-species living in tropical and subtropical environments and on islands.

Many island species and sub-species are at risk, and some have already been lost.

The chapters in this book derive from papers at a five-day conference devoted to the study of owls, which was held at the Australian National University, Canberra, in January 2000.

The conference was the third in a series of international meetings on owls. It provided an opportunity for the presentation of new findings, for northern and southern hemisphere owl researchers to meet and discuss issues of mutual concern, and also for northern biologists to see some of the markedly distinctive species of the region.