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On the Owls (Order Strigiformes) Inhabiting the Gaza Strip – Palestine

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On the Owls (Order Strigiformes) Inhabiting the Gaza Strip – Palestine Mini Review JOJ Wildl Biodivers Copyright © All rights are reserved by Abdel Fattah N Abd Rabou Volume 3 Issue 1- October 2020 On the Owls (Order Strigiformes) Inhabiting the Gaza Strip – Palestine Abdel Fattah N Abd Rabou* Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine Submission: October 5,2020; Published: October 28, 2020 *Corresponding author: Abdel Fattah N Abd Rabou, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine Abstract Birds are among the best-known vertebrate fauna of Palestine. Owls (order Strigiformes) comprise 10 extant species of the 540 bird species occurring in Palestine. The current study comes to give considerable notes on the Palestinian owls encountered in the Gaza Strip. Since 2002, the Gaza Strip. Animal markets, pet shops and zoos were visited as well to study their owl content. Binoculars, guidebooks and digital cameras frequent field visits and observations and discussions with local people have been used to determine the bird fauna including owls prevailing in encountered throughout the current study. They were the Barn Owl (Tyto alba), Little Owl (Athene noctua), Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), European Scopswere vitalOwl (Otustools scops)to satisfy and theEurasian purpose Eagle of Owlthe study.(Bubo Atbubo) least,. This five number species may of owlsincrease belonging in the future,to two asfamilies new numbers (Tytonidae of birds and areStrigidae) added towere the Gaza birds list annually. The Barn Owl was and is still the commonest owl species prevailing in all environments of the Gaza Strip, especially those close to dwellings and human activities. However, it was the most captive owl species in zoos, animal markets and pet shops. In terms of size, the Eurasian Eagle Owl is the biggest, while the European Scops Owl is the smallest. The threats facing owls in the Gaza Strip include habitat loss and destruction, poaching and trapping, myths and superstitions, secondary poisoning, road kills and fences of agricultural lands. Finally, the study recommends the raise of ecological awareness among Gazans and application of protection measures including nesting boxes in order to sustainablyKeywords: conserveBird fauna; the Strigiformes; owl species andOwls; their Barn significant Owl; Threats; ecological Gaza Striprole in the Gaza Strip. Introduction roosting, mimicry, protection and food values to birds, of which Birds are among the best-known biodiversity components the owls (order Strigiformes) are a considerable part [7-14]. of the Earth [1,2]. Palestine, which has an area of 27,000 km2, is home to more than 540 bird species inhabiting all types of Owls are a group of kind and very beautiful birds belonging to terrestrial and aquatic habitats [3]. They are encountering order Strigiformes which is commonly divided into two families; a capital deterioration which is tipping the majority of their the true or typical owl family, which is known as Strigidae, and populations and species closer to extinction [2]. Among others, the barn-owl family, which is known as Tytonidae [14]. More urbanization is a major threat facing birds and other wildlife than 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey in Palestine because it depletes natural and semi-natural form the Strigiformes order. Despite being a very small set of habitats, decreases faunal biodiversity and sometimes creates bird species, owls inhabiting Palestine (hereafter Palestinian new ecological habitats for some species [4], The Gaza Strip, owls) have received considerable attention from naturalists and which covers an area of 365 km2 (about 1.5% of the total area of biologists because of their direct relationship to agriculture. Owls Palestine) has a population composing of two million Palestinians are usually distinguished by their upright posture, large and broad [5], It has been considered as an environmentally and ecologically heads, binocular or two-eyed vision, binaural hearing using both hot spot because of its overcrowding, population density, political instability, environmental deterioration and injustice in [15]. Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, ears, sharp claws or talons and feathers adapted to silent flight addition to the escalating depletion of its natural resources [6]. The diversity of landscapes, ecosystems, habitats, niches and important role in the maintenance of a natural balance since although a few species specialize in hunting fish. Owls play an climates of the Gaza Strip introduces mating, nesting, resting, they are at the apex of trophic levels in terrestrial and aquatic JOJ Wildl Biodivers 3(1): JOJWB.MS.ID.555603 (2020) 001 JOJ Wildlife & Biodiversity ecosystems [16]. The historical Palestine is home to ten species their analogous environments [7-13]. During recent decades, of owls comprising the Tytonidae and Strigidae families; Barn the Palestinians have been increasingly aware of the importance Owl (Tyto alba), Little Owl (Athene noctua), Long-eared Owl (Asio of owls for different aspects including public health, role in otus), Shot-eared Owl (Asio flammeus), European Scops Owl (Otus ecosystems, educational value, and the necessity of protect them. scops), Pallid Scops Owl (Otus brucei), Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo Taking into account that biological conservation of organisms is, bubo), Pharaoh Eagle Owl (Bubo ascalaphus), Tawny Owl (Strix in part, based on how much the Palestinians know about them, aluco) and Desert Owl (Strix hadorami). Added to that, the Brown the principal aim of the current work is to report an emphasis on Fish Owl (Ketupa zeylonensis), which is an extinct owl species in the occurrence of and the threats facing the Palestinian owls of the the country [3,17]. Gaza Strip. In spite of this owl diversity, a few studies targeting owls Materials and Methods were carried out in the Palestinian territories. Amr et al. [18] investigated the diet of Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) in Wadi Gaza Strip Al-Makhrour, Bethlehem Governorate of Palestine. Glausiusz [19]. The Gaza Strip (365 km2) is an arid to semi-arid coastal zone pointed out that the Barn Owl (Tyto alba) was used in a cross- lying in the southern part of the Palestinian coast along the eastern border collaboration program of Middle East, including Palestine instead of pesticides to control pests. In Jordan and Israel, a lot North Gaza, Gaza, Middle, Khan Younis, and Rafah. The local average shore of the Mediterranean Sea (Figure 1). It has five governorates: of studies were carried out on certain owl species, discussing annual rainfall is 300 mm. Sand dunes are the main feature of the their feeding ecology, breeding biology and their importance in western part of the Gaza Strip, while the clay and clayey lands pest control [18,19 & 20-27]. In the Palestinian territories, many predominate in the eastern part [6,28]. Nowadays, the Gaza Strip owl species were mentioned in bird-related studies concerning has a population of about 2 million, with the population density the occurrence and incidence of birds in particular ecosystems reaching 5,500 inhabitants per square kilometer, making the Gaza such as Wadi Gaza Nature Reserve and Al-Mawasi ecosystem and Strip one of the most densely populated areas in the world [11]. Figure 1: A map showing the geographic position of the Gaza Strip. How to cite this article: Abdel Fattah N Abd Rabou. On the Owls (Order Strigiformes) Inhabiting the Gaza Strip – Palestine. JOJ Wildl 0054 Biodivers. 2020: 3(1): 555603 JOJ Wildlife & Biodiversity Procedure to in order to identify bird species [29-34]. Results discussions with local people have been used to determine the Since 2002, frequent field visits and observations and bird fauna prevailing in the various ecosystems of the Gaza Owl species of the Gaza strip commonly used for observations and documentation. More focus of owls occurring in the various environments within the limits of Strip. During the field visits, binoculars and digital cameras were The findings of the current study revealed at least five species was paid on the occurrence of and the threats facing the owl the Gaza Strip (Table 1 & Figure 2). Most of them seem to be locally species of the Gaza Strip. Animal markets, pet shops and zoological resident and breeding. The most widespread species of all is the gardens (zoos) were commonly visited to study their owl content. Barn Owl (Tyto alba) which belongs to Tytonidae family. The four All local literature concerning bird fauna in the Gaza Strip were other species belong to Strigidae family. The following paragraphs reviewed as well. Many available local, regional and international display a description of each Owl species occurring in the wild and guidebooks in addition to many internet sites have been referred sometimes in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Figure 2: The owl species of the Gaza Strip: (A and B) Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo, (C and D) Long-eared Owl Asio otus, (E) Little Owl Athene noctua, (F and G) European Scops Owl Otus scops and (H) Barn Owl Tyto alba. Table 1: Owls (order Strigiformes) of the Gaza Strip. Barn Owl (Tyto alba Scopoli 1769) Family Scientific Name Common Name The Barn Owl is not only one of the most widely distributed Strigiformes of owls, but of all land birds. It is the commonest owl species Tytonide Tyto alba Barn Owl prevailing in all environments of the Gaza Strip, especially those Strigidae Otus scops European Scops Owl close to dwellings and human activities. As its name indicates, Athene noctua Little Owl the Barn Owl is often found in rural areas nesting within barns. Asio otus Long-eared Owl distinctive call at night. It is characterized by its heart-shaped face Bubo bubo Eurasian Eagle Owl The presence of the species may be identified by the male’s and its white and gold colors. Males are usually whiter in color How to cite this article: Abdel Fattah N Abd Rabou.
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