Projet de conservation du hibou des marais

Le Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien, en collaboration avec le Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF) et avec la participation financière de l’Association des zoos et aquariums du Canada (AZAC), débute le projet de conservation du hibou des marais (Asio flammeus) au printemps 2012. Ce projet s’étalera sur quelques années et vise à mieux connaître la situation de l’espèce dans la région du Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean.   Quelques mots sur l’espèce   he Short-eared Owl is one of only a few species of owls native to almost all parts of the world. Unfortunately, despite the wide range of its habitats its population is in decline nearly everywhere. In Canada, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has qualified it as a species at risk. Accordin g to COSEWIC, the Canadian population has decreased by 23% over the last 10 years. Several factors have contributed to this population decline, including the loss of habitats due to urbanisation as well as agricultural development, which destroys nests and chicks. This species nests in the soil in fields, which makes the eggs and young owls vulnerable during the harvesting of grain and hay. The Short-eared Owl has not been studied in depth, and thus the collection of data is necessary in order to determine its status in the Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean region.

Objectives of the Project

• Establish an inventory system for Short-eared Owls in the Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean region;
• Determine the bird population (Short-eared Owl and other species of birds of prey)
• Record the intraspecific behaviour of the birds (hunting patterns, mating rituals, feeding, etc.);
• Record the interspecific behaviours of the birds;
• Document the species’ territorial behaviour;
• Research, locate, and categorize their nests;
• Document the species’ nesting habits and reproductive patterns;

Capture owls in order to affix identification rings and transmitters.