The “Owl Tile” (teula mussolera): A Conservation and Cooperation Project

Jaume Ramot is an environmental activist and conservationist who, 35 years ago, co-founded the Grup de Natura Sterna (Sterna Nature Group) with his colleagues. He is currently the president of the group. Carles Martorell is a member of the Grup de Naturalistes d’Osona – ICHN (Naturalists’ Group of Osona – ICHN) and has been a naturalist for nearly 40 years. He specializes in ornithology but is also interested in the functioning of ecosystems, particularly in agricultural environments.

In this talk, they will present the conservation project that received the proceeds from ticket sales at the 2024 Delta Birding Festival. The project consisted of manufacturing special “owl tiles” to create nesting refuges for the little owl (Athene noctua).

The little owl has experienced an alarming decline in recent decades. While the causes are varied and far-reaching—such as habitat alteration and degradation—there are certain aspects we can address immediately, such as improving nesting sites.

With the project “The Owl Tile,” o La Teula Mussolera in catalan, the goal is to support and increase breeding opportunities by involving both the primary sector and civil society. It may seem like a modest proposal, but it could become an effective mitigating measure in a time of widespread biodiversity loss. During the talk, the challenges of the project will be analyzed and discussed, and efforts will be made to generate synergies to replicate it across the territory.