Centre for protection and research of birds (CZIP) in cooperation with Crnogorski elektroprenosni sistem organized the first “Night of Owls” in Podgorica, with the aim of making a list of young birds of Asio otus. More than 50 participants, including the employees of our company, counted 48 young birds of this species of owl which makes nests in the Capital only in Ćemovsko filed. This detail shows a huge wealth of Ćemovsko field and one of the densest population of Asio otus in the surroundings.
Besides making a list of young owls, the participants had the opportunity to learn something more about birds of Ćemovsko field, the last prairie in Montenegro. They had the opportunity to see and hear some of the most interesting birds in Montenegro.
By this action the Centre for protection and research of birds has continued to successfully cooperate with Crnogorski elektroprenosni sistem for the third year in a row. In the past two years, in cooperation with CZIP, we set up a number of special houses for nestling of vultures on the high-voltage towers with the aim of supporting the population of Falco peregrinus. This year we have opted for scientific and research work, which is easily accessible to citizens and children, in order to popularize researches of charismatic species which are excellent indicators of the preservation of the nature, whose surveillance of a trend of the population is of paramount importance for recognizing and protecting important habitats like Ćemovsko field (IBA – important international bird area and IPA – important international plant area).
Ćemovsko field is the last prairie in Montenegro whose sparse forests are inhabited by Asio otus where they spend winters and make nests. The night of owls was organized with the aim of collecting as many as possible details of this protected species considering that it is characteristic for open habitats and the trend of its population (drop or growth) may show the preservation level of the environment of the Capital.
The night of owls was inspired by the first census of Bubo bubo, which was organized in late February on the slopes of Rumija, Sutorine and in the canyon of the river Cijevna, thanks to the support of the project team for the establishment of Natura 2000 network of protected areas in Montenegro and European Union Delegation.
