A new international study, published in the journal Biological Conservation, highlights the impact of human activity on wildlife, with contributions from Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum ornithologists Saulius Rumbutis, Dr. Deivis Dementavičius, and Dr. Rimgaudas Treinys, Chief Researcher at the Nature Research Centre. The research, conducted by a team spanning nine European countries across Western, Northern, and Central Europe, examined how artificial night lighting and road traffic noise influence the behavior and reproductive success of the tawny owl (Strix aluco).
The study utilized 13 years of data (2011–2023) from Lithuania on occupancy of owl nest boxes, clutch size, and the number of chicks, collected across two long-term research sites. Sources of anthropogenic disturbance were standardized across all countries, using data from OpenStreetMap, opeNoise Map, and the Visible and Infrared Imaging Suite (VIIRS). Several factors were analyzed, including distance to the nearest road, noise levels within a 0.5 km radius of the nest boxes, and the intensity of artificial light within the same distance. The effects of these disturbances were assessed in relation to nest box occupancy, clutch size, and brood size.
The results showed that the probability of nest box occupancy decreased with increasing noise levels and light pollution, while distance to the nearest road had no significant effect. Clutch size exhibited a trend toward a negative effect from noise pollution, and brood size was significantly reduced by noise, with a tendency for a negative effect from artificial light. Distance to the road did not have a significant impact on either reproductive measure.
These findings highlight that noise and light pollution negatively affect nocturnal wildlife, including owls, reducing both nest box occupancy and reproductive success. While owls living near roads in some areas may access more prey, they face an increased risk of collisions with vehicles.
The study confirms that reducing light and noise pollution is an important measure for conserving nocturnal raptors and maintaining the stability of their populations.
