Cebu Hawk-Owl. Endangered species of Cebu Island
Owls… who wouldn’t fall head over heels for them? They are symbols of wisdom, further reinforced by the most famous Hedwig owl from Harry Potter. But guess what? Cebu has a local A-lister owl superstar in town – the Cebu Hawk-Owl.
“Cebu boobook”
The Cebu Hawk-Owl (Ninox rumseyi) is also known as Cebu Boobook. It is a gem among the owl species in the Philippines as it is endemic to the island of Cebu. It was thought to be extinct in 1888… but it was rediscovered in 1998 in three forest patches! Our owl was formerly classified as a subspecies of the Philippine Hawk-Owl. Further investigations, however, have warranted its reclassification in 2012 as a unique and separate species. It is then one of the seven known species of hawk owls in the country.
Characterized as a medium-large-sized owl, it typically reaches a height of 25 cm. It makes it one of the biggest hawk-owls in the country. It has a similar plumage as the Mindoro Hawk-Owl (Ninox mindorensis). However, it exhibits a marked variability in its underpart color and pattern along with its fairly distinct vocalization that sets it apart from its Mindoro counterpart and other species.
There is no difference in appearance of males and females. Nor they have “ears”.
Gem of Cebu Island
Since its rediscovery the Cebu hawk-owl has been found in five of the eleven forest patches persisting on Cebu. Its distribution spread over several central and southern municipalities of Cebu Island. It was seen in Alcoy, Boljoon, Dalaguete, Argao, and Tabunan. It is reported to occupy both primary and secondary forest patches up to 700 m a.s.l. Moreover, it has been occasionally spotted in pure crop plantations. Cebu hawk-owls hide in the natural holes in the bigger, older trees.
In such a mixed habitat a pair of Cebu hawk-owl has a home range of about 10 ha. Interestingly, what limits the species presence is wind. Researchers speculated that it is because acoustic effects wrought by wind among branches and leaves may interfere with the owls’s ability to detect prey and each other’s signals.
Cebu Hawk-Owl – vulnerable species
Recent estimates suggest that the number of mature individuals in the wild ranges from 250 to 999. Or around 200 pairs. “Thanks” to its restricted distribution and the ongoing threats to its habitat mainly caused by continuing deforestation, the Cebu Hawk-Owl has been listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. On the other hand, taking into account the results from the last survey, researchers suggest upgrading the status to “Endangered”. It is due to small population size as well as decreasing quality and size of the forest patches
However, conservation efforts are underway thanks to local wildlife biologists and ornithologists. They try to address the pressing challenges faced by the Cebu Hawk-Owl and secure its future. By instilling a sense of responsibility and appreciation for the unique wildlife of Cebu, there is hope for the sustained protection of the Cebu Hawk-Owl and the rich biodiversity it represents.
Author: Azize Alamea Sabellana (USC’s Student)
