Eagle Owl presence and diet at mining sites: Implications for restoration and management for cliff‐nesting birds

The possible consequences of top predators for the success of restoration actions for animals is still poorly understood. Our main objective was to analyze whether there could be a risk of creating habitats with an excess of predation by top predators when carrying out actions to improve cliff habitats for cliff‐nesting birds at mining sites. We surveyed 28 mining sites in Spain to obtain information regarding the Eagle Owl's (Bubo bubo) presence and diet, and analyzed its relationship with the density of cliff‐nesting birds and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus, its main prey) at the mining sites. We detected Eagle Owls in 18 mining sites (64%) and collected enough prey remains in 11 mining sites. A total of 732 minimum number of prey were identified. The diet of the Eagle Owl consisted mainly of mammals (83%) and the proportion of birds in the diet was low (13%). There was no relationship between the presence of Eagle Owls and the density of rabbits in the mining sites, but there was a positive relationship with the density of cliff‐nesting birds. We conclude that the Eagle Owl does not seem to exert significant pressure on the cliff‐nesting birds, even on wild pigeons, the most abundant cliff‐nesting birds in its diet. Restoration projects which promote cliff‐nesting birds would not entail a significant risk of generating ecological traps by excess of predation by the Eagle Owl. Furthermore, this species could be favored in restoration plans, as it is a threatened species in some areas in Europe.