The diet and breeding of Long-eared Owls in relation to vole numbers

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Abstract
It is well known that owls achieve better breeding results in good rodent years than in poor ones. This study found that the difference in breeding success between good versus poor years was apparent mainly in the degree of non-breeding and in clutch size. Desertion of eggs or young was not correlated with prey abundance; possibly only the 'fitter' pairs breed in poor rodent years.