The owl of our island
A SCOPS owl native to the island has been formally recognised as the Cyprus scops owl, Otus cyprius, the third endemic bird species after the Cyprus wheatear and Cyprus warbler.
Birdlife International, the official International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List authority for birds, recognised the species following a review of published studies in 2015 and 2017 headed by independent researcher Peter Flint, an ornithologist and former resident of North Cyprus.
One of the now six species of owl on the island, it was accepted by the International Ornithological Congress in 2016 as an endemic species in its own right, proven partly by its distinctive call.
The endearing and well-camouflaged owl was previously considered to be a sub-species of the mainland Eurasian scops owl, which migrates through Cyprus but does not breed with it.
Population estimates range from 5,000 to 12,000 breeding pairs. Biologist Damla Beton, of the North Cyprus Society for the Protection of Birds and Nature (Kuşkor), said: “This acceptance further supports our island as an Endemic Bird Area of the world, important both for conservation of its habitat and birdwatching ecotourism.”
She added that morphometric measurements recorded by Kuşkor as part of a bird ringing scheme and shared with Peter Flint had contributed to the Otuscyprius research studies.
Kuşkor began bird ringing in 2001, joining the Europe-wide Euring network in 2011 and continues annual bird ringing work with UK experts.
“The scops are the smallest owls,” Dr Beton said.
“The Latin name comes from the Greek word ‘scopos’, which means ‘watching’. The name really suits this little owl, because the ‘ishakkuşu’, as it is called in Turkish, is nocturnal. It lives a very secret life and it’s almost impossible to see it sitting on a tree, but it sees you!
“It’s easy to hear them at night, however, as the sound echoes at dusk from a great distance.”
Kuşkor birdwatcher Gavin Croucher recorded the call from Esentepe to upload to the xeno-canto website, a citizen-science project dedicated to birdsong.
“Our home is surrounded by them as they live and breed around us and call for hours every night during the breeding season,” he said.
Calls for better habitat protection through a return to more diverse farming methods were made on both sides of the island following the owl’s new status — which will oblige governments to afford better protection.
A Cyprus scops owl was rescued from illegal mist nets in October by visiting activists from the Committee Against Bird Slaughter.
Meanwhile Kuşkor will resume its monthly birdwatching tours towards the end of January and released their 2020 calendar this month featuring the best of North Cyprus nature by 13 local bird photographers.
Copies are priced at just 10TL and can be obtained from the Kuşkor nature library in Gönyeli, on the ground floor of the Levent apartment block on Ulaş Sokak; the Best Seller bookstore in Alsancak; Mermaid Fabrics in Karakum; or by emailing info@kuskor.org for information on outlets in Gazimağusa and İskele.