After having all but disappeared from Switzerland, the Scops-owl is now recolonising Valais and Ticino. This species, which is associated with bocage environments, needs hollow trees to nest in and extensive prairies for hunting. These environments are drastically diminishing in favour of intensive agriculture areas, wooded areas and residential zones. In order to protect this migrating owl, it is imperative to conserve its preferred habitats.
Domain
Conservation
Unit
Species Recovery
Topic
Species Recovery, Habitat Promotion, Ecology
Habitat
meadows and pastures, semi-open farmland
Project start
2003
Project status
ongoing
Project management
Jean-Nicolas Pradervand
Project region
Valais, Ticino
Employees
Species concerned
Unit
Species Recovery
Wildlife conservation coordinates the development, improvement and dissemination of measures in favour of priority bird species that cannot be helped by habitat protection alone. Together with BirdLife Switzerland and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the department also coordinates the “Species Recovery for Swiss Birds” programme.