A GLIMPSE ON THE DIET OF TYTO ALBA (SCOPOLI 1769) AND ASIO OTUS (LINNAEUS, 1758) FROM THE WETLANDS OF WESTERN ROMANIA

The diet of Tyto alba (Scopoli 1769) and Asio otus (Linnaeus, 1758) was analyzed by studying pellets collected from Dumbrava and Lugoj localities (Timis County, Romania). We have found that in the winter of 2007-2008 shrews made up 38.95% from the diet of Tyto alba that were hunting around Dumbrava locality. Although rodents were still the main prey items found in the pellets of Tyto alba the ratio between them and shrews was of 1.56:1. Among the Soricidae, Crocidura suaveolens represented a proportion of 24.15%, Neomys anomalus 13.8% and Crocidura leucodon only 1%. The summer diet varied considerably but still contained 15.45% shrews. In contrast the pellets of Asio otus contained a smaller proportion of shrews both in winter and in summer month.