Indian Eagle Owl’s diet can benefit farmers: experts

“The Indian Eagle Owl plays a positive role in the biological control of pests. However,this owl is still persecuted due to superstitious beliefs and black magic. Hence scientific evidence based on local data could play a major role in its conservation,especially if the importance of the species in pest control is conveyed to the farming community,” said Pande.

Pande told Newsline that they studied the habitat preference and diet of 44 pairs of Indian Eagle Owl in Maharashtra.

The owls mainly capture rodents from agricultural land and also spend a longer duration of time in agricultural habitats,where they have a higher productivity,says Pande.

An analysis of diet showed that it mainly included rodentia and insect ivora. Insects,birds,bats and other prey like civets,hare,agamas,geckos,skinks,snakes,amphibians and arachnids also formed part of the diet. Out of the species of rodents found in the diet of the Indian Eagle Owl,7 are recognised as 22 major rodent pests in India,1 species of bat is an agricultural pest,3 species of insects are plant pests,and 23 pests and 3 species of scorpions inflict biteson the farming community.

Despite the developments in the infrastructure for the production and storage of agricultural produce,it is estimated that the rodent pests of agriculture bring chronic damage of 2 per cent to 15 per cent annually throughout the country,while severe damage can sometimes even go up to 100 per cent . As a result,agricultural pest control is becoming a major concern. A variety of methods have been proposed as potential for agricultural pest control and include control using pesticide chemicals and biological controls through predators and pathogens. As chemical pesticides often affect the environment and human health,focus is now shifting to the biological control of agricultural pests.

Nearly 155 delegates from 22 countries participated in this conference. The papers focussed on breeding biology,ecology,status and range of birds of prey (raptors).Papers were also presented on migration routes based on satellite telemetry and GPS transmitters.