**1. Introduction**

Owls (Strigiformes Wagler, 1830) in Bulgaria have always been held in special esteem. With their large round eyes, large heads, fascial disc, powerful and sharp claws, soft plumage and silent flight, they were the personification of strength, power, majesty, mystery and bad luck and death. Such beliefs are deeply rooted in the consciousness of broad circles of the population. Even today, many people believe that if they hear a Little Owl calling from the roof of the neighbor's house, there will soon be a funeral in that home.

In Bulgarian ethnography, there are no studies on the role of owls in the life of the population. Images or sculptures of owls in prehistoric and ancient art have so far not been found in the country, unlike some neighboring countries (Greece, for example). Past distribution of owl also remained out of special research, except that of [1–3].

At present, order Strigiformes includes between 213 [4] and 220 [5] recent species in two families—Strigidae Leach, 1820, and Tytonidae Ridgway, 1814. Palearctic

fauna numbers 17 species [6], while in the Bulgarian avifauna 10 species are recorded. *Bubo scandiacus* (Linnaeus, 1758) and *Surnia ulula* (Linnaeus, 1758) are listed as likely to be found in the country [7], although none of them has been recorded so far. The influence of global warming in recent decades reduces the chances of establishment of these boreal species in Bulgaria.

Owls (large owls) are often one of the most active accumulators of animal remains (bones, teeth) in the cave deposits. Their role as taphonomic agents is highly appreciated by the paleozoologists, speleologist and ecologist [8]. The food of most species of owls in Bulgaria (based on pellets analysis) is relatively well studied, but the most numerous are the studies on the diet of the Eagle Owl. The largest number of food components were found in this species. It is believed that in Bulgaria, its number is among the highest in the Balkans and in Europe.
