The Little Owl, one of the smallest owl species, is critically endangered due to habitat destruction and intensive land use. However, a conservation effort in Germany has made significant progress in restoring the species' population. A team led by Peter and Gunther has spent 30 years restoring a 5,000-hectare landscape, replanting trees, and transforming concrete deserts into natural fields. They have developed a method called "family rewilding," which increases the chances of successful reintroduction of captive-bred birds into the wild. The team has built aviaries and nesting boxes to provide a safe habitat for the owls. With the help of the Planet Wild community, they aim to establish a self-sustaining population of 100 breeding pairs in the region.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Little Owl is one of the smallest owls in the world.
2. The Little Owl's German name is "Kauz".
3. The Little Owl is a synanthropic bird, meaning it thrives best close to human settlements.
4. The Little Owl needs a mix of human settlement and natural diversity to survive.
5. The Little Owl is critically endangered due to intensive land use and habitat destruction.
6. The Little Owl has gone extinct in many places, including some regions in Europe.
7. A team of conservationists, led by Peter and Gunther, has been working to restore the Little Owl's habitat in a region near Berlin for 30 years.
8. The team has replanted trees, restored old wetlands, and transformed concrete deserts into natural fields.
9. The team has also bought large plots of land to dedicate to sustainable farming practices.
10. The Little Owl is an indicator species, meaning its presence indicates a healthy ecosystem.
11. The team has developed a new method called "family rewilding" to reintroduce the Little Owl to its old habitat.
12. The family rewilding approach involves releasing captive-bred owls into the wild with their parents.
13. The team has set up nesting boxes to provide a safe home for the owls.
14. The Little Owl needs specific structures like open barns and old fruit trees as nesting places.
15. The team has installed 25 nesting boxes to increase the chances of the owls settling in the area.
16. The owls are expected to start exploring their environment and eventually leave the aviary.
17. The team's goal is to create a fully self-sustaining population of Little Owls in the region.
18. The team has already documented almost 50 breeding pairs in the region, with a goal of 100 pairs.
19. Other conservationists have started adopting the family rewilding concept.
20. The Planet Wild community is financing the installation and purchase of the nesting boxes.