Stowarzyszenie Ochrony Sów

Stowarzyszenie Ochrony Sów (SOS), whose name translates as the Association for the Protection of Owls, is a Polish non-governmental nature-conservation organization that has been active in Poland since 2007. Its stated purpose is the protection of animals, their habitats and natural heritage, with a particular emphasis on birds and especially owls (Strigiformes). The association describes its work as combining conservation, scientific research and education, and it presents itself as having helped owls in Poland since 2007. The organization's activities are defined by its statute, which lists scientific research and population monitoring, active protection aimed at securing sites and creating refuges and breeding places, the development and delivery of its own educational programmes, the organization of workshops, seminars, conferences and lectures, the publication of scientific and popular-science materials, and the preparation of expert opinions on bird protection. The statute also covers cooperation with Polish and foreign environmental organizations, foundations and institutions, commenting on spatial-development plans and other activities that may threaten nature, cooperation with local-government and state bodies in enforcing existing regulations, the establishment of foundations, and legal action to bring valuable natural areas under protection. SOS is best known for its owl monitoring programmes. Since 2010, within the framework of the state environmental monitoring system, it has run the Monitoring of Breeding Forest Owls (MLSL) on 40 plots located throughout Poland. The monitoring covers four forest owl species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive: the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), the Ural owl (Strix uralensis), the boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) and the Eurasian pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum), with the tawny owl (Strix aluco) and the long-eared owl (Asio otus) counted as additional species. The main aim is to learn about the abundance, distribution and population trends of forest owl species in different regions of Poland. SOS also runs the "Akcja Sowy Mierzei" (Vistula Spit Owl Action) project, carried out with the participation of the Association of Migratory Bird Observers "Drapolicz". Running since 2011, the action aims to catch and ring all owl species migrating along the Baltic coast; the ringing camp lasts from mid-September to the end of November, the period of the most intensive owl migration, and monitors the numbers, age structure and sex structure of migrating owls. In 2012 SOS began the Monitoring of Farmland Owls (MSKR), aimed at understanding changes in the populations of rural and suburban owls, with particular attention to the little owl (Athene noctua) and the barn owl (Tyto alba); any willing person with basic ability to recognize owl voices may take part. Since 2013 work has been under way on an "Atlas of the Distribution of Owls in Poland", beginning with an online database that lets observers quickly and easily collect data, even single observations, with a scientific publication planned as the final result. Beyond monitoring, SOS organizes annual field camps in various regions of Poland to inventory poorly surveyed areas for owls and to educate participants, and it periodically organizes scientific conferences, the "All-Poland Conferences: Owls Strigiformes of Poland", where Polish and foreign enthusiasts and scientists present their results. The association cooperates with foreign ornithological organizations, including in Latvia and Serbia. It also engages in public education and fundraising, inviting supporters to donate and to direct 1.5% of their income tax to the organization, and it maintains a business-partner programme. Its website offers an Atlas for Recognizing Owls, online cameras, publications, artificial nest boxes, legal acts, instructions and downloadable files, and it reports grants such as one from the City of Sopot.

Stowarzyszenie Ochrony Sów (SOS) is a Polish nature-conservation non-governmental organization that has operated in Poland since 2007. Its statutory purpose is the protection of animals, their habitats and natural heritage, including initiating, coordinating and conducting activities for the protection of birds with particular emphasis on owls. The association's statute sets out the means by which it pursues these aims: scientific research and monitoring of animal populations; active protection aimed at securing areas and sites of occurrence and creating refuges and breeding places; developing and implementing its own educational programmes; organizing and running workshops, seminars, conferences, classes and lectures as part of ecological and nature education; developing and publishing scientific and popular-science materials related to nature conservation; preparing expert opinions on the protection of birds, with a focus on owls, and other elements of living and non-living nature; cooperation with Polish and foreign environmental organizations, foundations, institutions and movements; commenting on spatial-development plans and any activities that may pose a threat to nature; cooperation with relevant local-government organizations and state institutions in enforcing existing regulations; cooperation with other domestic and foreign organizations with convergent goals; establishing foundations; and taking legal action to bring valuable natural areas under protection. A central pillar of SOS's work is monitoring. Since 2010, within the framework of the state environmental monitoring system, the association has carried out the Monitoring of Breeding Forest Owls (MLSL) on 40 plots located throughout Poland. The monitoring covers four forest owl species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive: the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), the Ural owl (Strix uralensis), the boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) and the Eurasian pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum). The tawny owl (Strix aluco) and the long-eared owl (Asio otus) are also counted as additional species. The fundamental aim of MLSL is to gain knowledge about the abundance, distribution and trends in the abundance of forest owl populations in individual regions of Poland. SOS also runs the project "Akcja Sowy Mierzei" (Vistula Spit Owl Action), implemented with the participation of the Association of Migratory Bird Observers "Drapolicz". Running since 2011, the action aims to catch and ring all owl species migrating along the Baltic coast. The ringing camp lasts from mid-September to the end of November, the period of the most intensive owl migration. During the action, the abundance of migrating owls of each species, their age structure and their sex structure are monitored. In 2012 SOS began implementing the Monitoring of Farmland Owls (MSKR). Its aim is to understand the changes taking place in the populations of owls of rural and suburban areas, with particular emphasis on the little owl (Athene noctua) and the barn owl (Tyto alba). Any willing person may take part in the monitoring, provided they have a basic ability to recognize owl voices. Since 2013 work has been under way on the "Atlas of the Distribution of Owls in Poland". The first stage of this work was the creation of an online database. A tool was made available that allows observers to collect data quickly and easily, even single observations. The final result of the project is to be a scientific publication. SOS is the organizer of annual field camps in various regions of Poland. The aim of these camps is to inventory poorly recognized areas for the occurrence of owls, as well as to educate participants. The association also periodically organizes scientific conferences, the "All-Poland Conferences: Owls Strigiformes of Poland", at which Polish and foreign enthusiasts and scientists present the results of their work. These are a place for exchanging experience and popularizing knowledge about nocturnal predators. SOS cooperates with foreign ornithological organizations, including in Latvia and Serbia. Alongside research and protection, SOS carries out nature education and fundraising. Its website presents sections on news, about us, SOS goals, SOS authorities, the SOS statute, joining the association, references, GDPR privacy policy, reports and public procurement. It promotes active protection of the boreal owl and the Eurasian eagle-owl in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, various monitoring activities, owl ringing, the Vistula Spit Owl Action (with yearly editions from 2011 to 2016), the SOS Ringing Group, owls of Pomerania, ringing of long-eared owls at wintering sites, and ringing of owls in the Barycz Valley. It also lists educational activities such as "Let's protect our owls", "Birds in buildings", "Keep the trees – you will save the owls", participation in the 17th Science Picnic of Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre, "Owls around us", workshops in Jaroszowiec and Klucze and in Rudniki near Częstochowa, field research, field camps, and conferences. The site invites support through donations and the donation of 1.5% of tax, offers a business-partner programme, and provides resources including the Atlas of Polish Owls, legal acts, instructions and downloadable files, an Atlas for Recognizing Owls, online cameras, publications and artificial nest boxes. It states that the association has helped owls in Poland since 2007 and that its activities are protection, research work and education. It also reports receiving grants, such as a further grant from the City of Sopot.

• 2013

  Work begins on the "Atlas of the Distribution of Owls in Poland", starting with an online database.

• 2012

  SOS begins the Monitoring of Farmland Owls (MSKR), focusing on the little owl and the barn owl.

• 2011

  The "Akcja Sowy Mierzei" (Vistula Spit Owl Action) begins, catching and ringing owls migrating along the Baltic coast.

• 2010

  SOS begins the Monitoring of Breeding Forest Owls (MLSL) on 40 plots across Poland within the state environmental monitoring system.

• 2007

  Stowarzyszenie Ochrony Sów begins operating in Poland.

Non-governmental nature-conservation association focused on the research, monitoring, active protection and public education of owls (Strigiformes) in Poland.

1. 1Sowy SOS - Stowarzyszenie Ochrony Sówsowy.sos.pl
2. 2Stowarzyszenie Ochrony Sówwikidata.org
3. 3Stowarzyszenie Ochrony Sówpl.wikipedia.org