Distribution and Habitat Use of Spotted Owlet Athene brama (Temminck,1821) (Aves: Strigiformes: Strigidae) in Navsari Agricultural University, Gujarat, India

Present study assessed the habitat use and distribution of the spotted owlet, Athene brama (Temminck 1821) in the Navsari Agricultural University campus. Data were collected from February to April 2024 through surveys conducted across 24 grids, covering a total distance of 85 kilometres. These surveys resulted in the encounter of 38 Spotted Owlets, yielding a naive occupancy rate of 0.56 and a mean encounter rate of 0.65 owlets per kilometre. The proportion of agricultural land significantly influences habitat use, exhibiting a curvilinear relationship. Encounter rates increased with the proportion of agricultural land up to 50–60%, followed by a decline at higher proportions (r²=0.31). Additionally, the presence of orchards negatively affected habitat uses, as indicated by polynomial regression analysis (r²=0.13). Built-up areas, water bodies, and roads did not show significant effects on the owlet’s habitat use.