Are Roadkills Density-Dependent? Case Study of the Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Even though birds are some of the most common road-killed animals, it remains to be determined whether avian roadkills related breeding numbers and success, mainly due a lack study areas that monitor populations roadkills. We studied barn owl success monitored yearly (2174 attempts 1682 adults ringed) (9380 nestlings 95 km roads weekly for from 2009 2017 in Beit Shean Emek Yizreel Valleys, Israel. During period, we documented 1073 owls, which 328 were ring recoveries. The highest mortality occurred between July September, coinciding with post-fledging period. number pairs ringed positively total roadkill, proportion roadkill recoveries, recovered first year their life. First-year owls represent majority accounting 64.6%, while adult compose 35.4%. Notably, substantial fraction encompassing 67.2%, may pertain floaters since did not observe these individuals as adults. more females found male/female recoveries was similar at nest boxes. This is shows density-dependent demonstrate importance monitoring population studies.