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The overall objective of the project has been to optimise conservation efforts in the recovery of Barn Owl and Owl populations.

In this line, the specific objectives have been the following:

• To identify the limiting factors involved in the regression of the populations of these two species.
• To know the optimal areas for the establishment and survival of these two species, optimizing conservation efforts.
• To know how the occupied habitat influences the physiological and reproductive parameters of both species.
• Obtain guidelines for their application in the in situ conservation of these species and in the design of the Common Agricultural Policy.

• Characterisation of the breeding habitats of both species: different variables have been studied, such as the amount of vegetation and infrastructure or the presence of predators in a given radius within their territories, to subsequently determine how these variables affect both species. The activity was completed with the installation of 50 wooden nest boxes and their subsequent periodic review to detect possible occupation by breeding pairs of barn owls.
• Comparative study of physiological and biological parameters in breeding pairs and their chicks in different habitats: body indices and biological samples of breeding pairs and their chicks have been taken to know certain parameters related to the stress, acute and chronic, of these birds.
• Construction of a predictive model that allows us to know the areas favorable for the conservation of both species: a statistical analysis has been carried out based on the data collected from the fieldwork and the taking of samples from the captured specimens. This analysis has made it possible to interrelate reproductive and habitat-related parameters, and as a result a total of 34 territories representing more than 6,800 hectares have been characterised.
• Transfer of information to public and private entities involved in the conservation of these species: the entity has presented a series of guidelines on the choice of habitats in conservation actions of the barn owl and the little owl, as well as appropriate measures for the conservation of species linked to agricultural environments. Specifically, these guidelines and measures have been transferred to the Sub-Directorate General for Agricultural Policy Planning of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, so that they can be taken into account in the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (PEPAC) and in the Strategic Environmental Study of PEPAC. The information has also been sent to the competent authorities in the field of natural resources and biodiversity of the Community of Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León and National Heritage.
• Dissemination and communication of the project through different materials: an informative video, talks and online conferences, publications on social networks, a final event to present the results…

The project has generally met its objectives. In general, the research has been able to confirm that nocturnal birds of prey linked to agricultural environments are experiencing an accelerated regression in their populations in the centre of the peninsula due, above all, to agricultural intensification, which drastically decreases biodiversity.

In the case of the barn owl, 94 valid biological samples have been obtained from 50 individuals, 43 chicks and 7 adults, and the habitat of 18 territories in total has been characterized. The results obtained indicate that the presence of owl is greater in agricultural and cultivation areas, increasing the probability of such presence when the habitat is heterogeneous and where a large part of the landscape is occupied by borders, areas of natural vegetation and absence of roads. In addition, parameters related to the immune system, weight and stress improve their values when the habitat has natural vegetation, so the greater the area of cultivation and natural vegetation in a territory, the better the physical condition of the chicks raised in that territory. On the contrary, their survival is compromised by the increase in secondary roads and the presence of certain predators such as the goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), the eagle owl (Bubo bubo) and the tawny owl (Strix aluco).

Regarding the European owl , 16 territories have been characterized and samples have been taken from 10 individuals. It has been possible to corroborate that the body condition of the species seems to be positively related to the number of micromammals present in the territory; However, the abundance of carnivores in the territory, as well as the length of the surrounding roads , have a negative effect on the weight of the species. Similarly, the data indicate that intense predatory pressure appears to be associated with very high levels of chronic stress in individuals.

On the other hand, Brinzal highlights that both the barn owl and the little owl are nocturnal birds of prey that depend fundamentally on agricultural environments, so that public policies in this area, such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), are of transcendental importance in their conservation. For this reason, the results and conclusions of this project have been transferred to various public bodies. Among them is the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which has received, from the entity, allegations in the public information process of the initial version of the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (PEPAC) and the Strategic Environmental Study of PEPAC, and whose text includes the conclusions of the project.

Finally, it should be noted that the entity has carried out a good job of disseminating activities and results linked to the project. The publications on social networks have managed to reach more than 160,000 people, and more than 1,000 views of the informative talks given online and more than 600 views of the informative video have been made.