MADRID, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Changes in the landscape in Spain's countryside areas are threatening the survival of the Barn Owl, the Spanish Ornithological Society, SEO BirdLife, told Xinhua.
Over the last decade, the Barn Owl has suffered a decline of 13 percent in its populations and in some places in Spain the figure falls to 50 percent.
Changes in the country's rural areas from the agriculture system threaten the survival of the species, and has an impact on their reproduction and feeding.
"The landscape went from a mosaic landscape, in which there are small plots of various types, to a landscape where crops are very large," Virginia Escandell, in charge of the Noctua Program, which examines the evolution of nocturnal birds, told Xinhua.
These large areas, together with the use of pesticides, threaten biodiversity in the Spanish countryside and deplete Barn Owls' food sources.
The depopulation of the countryside areas also causes a loss of places where Barn Owls could nest, affecting their reproduction.
"The general situation is quite bad," Escandell said, explaining that in "the Mediterranean area, in Madrid, Extremadura, and Castilla La Mancha, their populations have fallen by half."
The Barn Owl is protected at a national level in Spain and it is listed as a wild species in the Special Protection Regime, which prohibits their capture, killing, or attacking their nests. The Barn Owl was chosen as "bird of the year" in Spain for 2018
"Three species were proposed to be chosen as bird of the year 2018, and the Barn Owl has been the one winning with great margin," said Escandell. A total of 3,796 SEO Birdlife members and supporters voted in the poll.
"We always look for species with environmental problems, as after they are chosen, we can raise awareness about their situation, so that measures are adopted for their conservation," Escandell stated.
According to SEO BirdLife, in order to improve Barn Owl populations, biodiversity should be improved in Spanish countryside.
