Recovery of the Little Owl Population

The Little Owl is being promoted with great effort by BirdLife Switzerland and numerous partners.

In 2020, 149 calling males were counted, roughly three times more than twenty years ago. The population recovery shows: species promotion works when authorities, nature conservation organisations and farmers collaborate with financial support from numerous funders. However, the targets defined in the Little Owl Action Plan Switzerland have not yet been achieved.

The Little Owl had nearly become extinct as a breeding bird in this country. At the beginning of this millennium, its population had fallen to just around 50 to 60 territories. It had thus almost joined the list of former breeding birds such as the Red-backed Shrike and the Great Grey Shrike, the Eurasian Curlew, and most recently the Grey Partridge, which have disappeared from Switzerland in recent decades.

Although there was at times little hope left for the Little Owl, BirdLife Switzerland and numerous partners made the decision to do everything possible for its survival in Switzerland. The first comprehensive conservation efforts in the canton of Geneva date back to the 1980s, where professional wildlife wardens are active in species, animal, and nature conservation. From around the year 2000 onwards, efforts were also stepped up in other parts of the country. Activities focused on potentially suitable habitats and their enhancement. Since then, numerous measures have been implemented, such as the planting of standard fruit trees and the creation of biodiversity promotion areas. In addition, meadows and pastures are managed in a more nature-friendly manner, nesting aids are installed, perches are set up, and small structures such as shrub groups, brush piles, and stone heaps are created. Today, promotion projects exist in Geneva, in the Fribourg and Bernese Seeland, in Ticino, in the Ajoie JU, and in the tri-border area near Basel.

Since 2003, the projects have been carried out within the framework of the Species Promotion Programme conducted by BirdLife Switzerland and the Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach with the support of the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN. In this context, the three partners published the Little Owl Action Plan Switzerland in 2016. It summarizes the population situation, identifies the urgent need for action, and sets out goals for long-term conservation. Implementation of the action plan is already in full swing, thanks to close cooperation between the cantons, BirdLife Switzerland, and numerous project partners.

Experience from the projects shows that the measures are having an effect. Since the start of conservation activities around 2000, the little owl population has grown from approximately 50 to 60 territories to 149 territories in 2020. Numerous other animal and plant species have also benefited from the measures implemented. These successes are largely due to the projects carried out by BirdLife and its partners, as well as the tireless dedication of many volunteers. Funding was only made possible thanks to the generous support of numerous private foundations, cantons, the federal government, funds, and other donors. Cooperation with the federal government and cantons is of great importance for securing these successes in the long term.

The goals of the Little Owl Action Plan Switzerland are, however, far from being achieved. According to the plan, 300 breeding pairs are targeted for the year 2031. There is therefore still a great deal to be done. The challenges lie primarily in the further enhancement and networking of habitats, which are located exclusively in agricultural areas. A considerable proportion of farmers are open to taking action for the little owl. However, current agricultural policy only provides compensation for some of the measures, and even these are often not competitive¹. In addition, numerous biodiversity-damaging subsidies still exist that have a counterproductive effect on these efforts². In order to achieve the federal target of 300 breeding pairs in Switzerland by 2031, and thereby secure the little owl population in the long term, two things are needed above all:

1. a consistent continuation of projects within the framework of the Bird Species Promotion Programme Switzerland by BirdLife Switzerland, the Swiss Ornithological Institute, and FOEN, together with the numerous local partners, for the specific promotion of the little owl.
2. a contemporary subsidy and agricultural policy that creates appropriate incentives for the protection and promotion of endangered species.

Corncrake Also on the Rise

As BirdLife also announced, 2020 was a record year for the corncrake, a species threatened with extinction in Switzerland. 88 calling males were heard in spring — the average over recent years had been 34. Bird conservationists are expecting 50 breeding pairs.

BirdLife launched the protection programme for this meadow-nesting bird around 25 years ago. As part of the programme, BirdLife enters into nesting-site agreements with farmers, in which they commit to mowing their meadows later in the season so that the corncrake can breed without its clutch being destroyed. Farmers are compensated for any resulting losses.

Further Information

Nationwide Network of Regional Projects

The little owl is a priority species of the «Species Promotion Birds Switzerland» programme run by BirdLife Switzerland, the Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach, and the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN. Since 2003, regional projects have been managed within the framework of this programme. The projects depend on funding from private foundations, the Fond Landschaft Schweiz FLS, private donations, and the cantons. Several funders have been supporting the projects for over 15 years. On behalf of all those involved, BirdLife Switzerland extends its sincere thanks for these important contributions!

Canton of Geneva

In the Canton of Geneva, the youth group of Nos Oiseaux began as early as 1983 to support Switzerland's largest little owl population by installing numerous suitable nest boxes. Since 2011, the project has been run by the BirdLife cantonal association Groupe Ornithologique du Bassin Genevois GOBG. In cooperation with the canton, farmers, landowners, and other partners, biodiversity promotion areas are being improved or newly created in addition to the installation of further nest boxes. The little owl population has increased locally; 77 territories were recorded in 2020 — more than double the number in 2001 (32).

Canton of Jura

In 2002, BirdLife Switzerland, together with Pro Natura Jura, Nos Oiseaux, the Société des Sciences Naturelles du Pays de Porrentruy, and the Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Baroche, founded the association «Collectif Chevêche-Ajoie», which became the association «Collectif Chevêche» at the beginning of the year. The Collectif and the Fondation Rurale Interjurassienne, in collaboration with the canton of Jura, have planted around 2,500 standard trees, secured approximately 40 hectares of extensive grassland in little owl territories through contracts, and installed more than 160 little owl nest boxes. For several years, the Collectif has been supporting the canton on spatial planning matters in order to secure the long-term future of the population, which is closely linked to the settlement area. The activities of the Collectif Chevêche have thus contributed to an increase in little owl territories from 13 in 2003 to 46 in 2020.

Seeland BE/FR

In 2005, a breeding pair of little owls unexpectedly came together in the Seeland. The female originated from the Geneva population and provided proof that colonisation can also succeed over long distances. The Ornithological Society of Kerzers and BirdLife Switzerland have since supported the species in this area with nest boxes. Since 2015, BirdLife Switzerland, Berner Ala, the Bernese Bird Protection Society (BVS), and their sections, together with the local IBA group and the Biotopverbund Grosses Moos, have been running a project to enhance the habitat of the little owl and other farmland birds. Also in 2015, the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach, in collaboration with BirdLife Switzerland, launched a scientific experiment to study the effect of a large supply of nest cavities on the little owl.

Northwestern Switzerland and Regio Trirhena

In the tri-border region, BirdLife Switzerland, BirdLife Aargau, the Baselland Nature and Bird Protection Association (BNV), the Ornithological Society of Basel (OGB), BirdLife Solothurn, NABU Südbaden, and LPO Alsace (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux) have been running a joint project since 1999. In the project, the partners promote populations in Alsace and southern Baden and enhance habitat in Switzerland so that wandering little owls can settle there again. They have succeeded in significantly increasing little owl populations north of Basel: in Germany from 14 breeding pairs in 2003 to currently 32, and in France from 14 to 103 breeding pairs. Conservationists are now hoping for the immigration of little owl pairs into the Basel-Landschaft and Fricktal regions.

Canton of Ticino

In Ticino, BirdLife Switzerland and Ficedula are researching and promoting the little owl. Unlike on the northern side of the Alps, the birds here inhabit rustici rather than tree cavities. The project managers are researching food sources, hunting territories, and cavity types, and are using their findings to protect the civetta, as the little owl is called in Italian. Other important measures include tree planting and staggered mowing of meadows to allow the little owl to forage for food. The population has recovered from just 4 pairs in 2005 to 23 territories in 2020.