It weighs only 50-77 grams: The smallest owl in Ukraine lives in the Chornobyl reserve
The Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve is home to the pygmy owl. It is the smallest owl in the fauna of Ukraine, 15-17 cm long with feathers. They weigh only 50-77 grams.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the pygmy owl was not seen in the exclusion zone. It was first seen in the Lubianka forestry in the summer of 2009. At that time, only 5 bird habitats were known, the reserve's Facebook page reports.
Today, there are 27 known habitats of the pygmy owl in the Chornobyl Reserve. The number of birds on the territory can reach at least 70-80 pairs. The bird settles in mature deciduous and mixed forests near glades, fallow lands and meadows. The owl is sedentary, but in winter, some adults and most young birds migrate southward.
Unlike many species of owls, this owl hunts from morning until evening dusk. It feeds on small animals, such as mouse-like rodents and small birds. If the pygmy owl reveals itself during the day by voice or visually, it is chased by flocks of birds that scream loudly. Therefore, this owl hunts from ambush, hiding from prying eyes prematurely.
It nests in the hollows of woodpeckers. You can find the remains of prey under such a hollow, which the female throws away when cleaning the nest. Before wintering, owls harvest food in separate hollows: small birds and mammals (mice, voles, and woodchucks). The calm and self-confident nature of the pygmy owl allows the photographer to get close to the bird and take great pictures.