**3. Broader regional ties of the observed sites to Volovské mountains**

The Kamenný hrb – Bankov site belongs to a broader mountain range of Volovské mountains, of area 1240 km2 , reaching elevations 1322 m (**Figures 11**–**13**). In the whole range, Ural and Tawny Owls still survive with a stable trend, despite forest logging, but

*Nest site of the Eurasian pygmy owl at Suchý vrch in Starovodská valley in year 2013, 830 m elevation. Photo S. Pačenovský.*

*Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in a Guild of Forest Owls: Eurasian Pygmy Owl… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.102932*

#### **Figure 12.**

*Breeding territory of Eurasian pygmy owl at Suchý vrch in Starovodská valley in central part of Volovské mountains, fir-beech forest in 830 m elevation, June 2013. Photo S. Pačenovský.*

#### **Figure 13.**

*Starovodská valley in central part of Volovské mountains, July 2013. At opposite slope over 100 years old, natural, mixed forests are visible, as well as other parts of the ridge, denudated after removal of dying spruce forests, 800–1300 m a.s.l. Photo: S. Pačenovský.*

Boreal Owls and also probably Pygmy Owls show a moderate long-term decline due to loss of spruce forests above 1000 m elevation as a consequence of climate change and bark-beatle infestations. As profound population decline of Pygmy Owl, as we observed at Kamenný hrb – Bankov site in other, higher elevations of the range was not found even during last decade (2010–2021), with exception of highest areas in central and western part of the range, where vast habitat degradation was observed in spruce forests. Other populations of all 4 owl species in fir-beech forests are still stable. Latest population estimates for whole Volovské mountains range were 130–155 pairs for the Pygmy Owl (locally −1 popul. trend), for the Ural Owl 130–190 pairs (stable popul. trend), for the Boreal Owl 130–180 pairs (−1 popul. trend) and for the Tawny Owl was not stated a precise population estimate [14].
