Santa Marta Screech-Owl: Ecology & Conservation
Home | Allied Projects
Share
Science that leads to action
Santa Marta Screech-Owl Ecology & Conservation
The Santa Marta Screech-Owl (Megascops gilesi)is the only species of owl endemic to Colombia, and restructed to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is catalogued as a Vulnerable species, and we currently have very little information about its ecological requirements.
In this study we evaluate patterns of habitat association at multiple scales. At a fine scale we assess the relationship between owl density and several microhabitat variables. At an intermediate scale we estimated population density in three habitat types. At a broad scale we refines estimates of its entire distribution range. All the above aiming to guide conservation measures for this species.
Conservation implications
Our findings suggest that the Santa Marta Screech-Owl has particular habitat requirements, preffering forest interior and behaving like a habitat specialist. The species avoids closeness to antropic elements in the landscape.
Conservation measures should establish a management plan for the species designed through the Open Standards for Conservation of Biodiversity. GIS tools should be used to identify core use areas and assess connectivity etween them. Forest restoration should be a priority to guarantee habitat and connectivity, and community monitoring plus environmental education campaigns should go hand in hand with birding tourism development for local communities.
This project was part of the Masters Thesis by Sergio Gacía-Murcia, who received an ‘Honorary’ mention by the ‘Conservation and use of Biodiversity Program’ in Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá. Two scientific publications are being prepared, the first about the specie’s habitat associations, and the second about its distribution and a re-evaluation of its extinction risk.
Funding partners:
Project objectives
Identify microhabitat variables that the species selects.
Estimate density of individuals in primary forest, secondary forest and cattle pastures under regeneration.
Refine our knowledge about the species entire distribution range in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Propose conservation measures for this species.
Project Gallery
Highlighted findings
Fine scale
The owl selects areas with large old trees and snags, high closed canopy, complex vegetation structure and low slopes. Its density is lower close to houses, roads, forest edges and open areas.
Medium scale
The highest density occurs in primary forest, followed by old secondary forests. We did not obtain any sightings from regenerating cattle pastures.
Broad scale
The owl is restricted to a narrow elevation range (1.600 – 2.900m) in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, exclusively associated to forest cover.
Research to understand, understand to act
Suppor our work in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, to contribute with the production of information about endemic species and their conservation.
Project Team
Sergio García-Murcia
Luis Miguel Renjifo
Juan Sebastián Restrepo-Cardona
Jorge Luis Gutiérrez-Guillén
