Barn Owl Predation Effects on Rodent Abundance and Behavior in Vineyards

From February to July 2023, this dataset captures the results of a field study across six winegrape vineyards in Napa Valley, California. It measures the top-down effects of American barn owls on rodent pests, primarily deer mice (Peromyscus spp.), using chew block grids, giving-up density trays, and camera traps. The findings indicate barn owls reduced rodent abundance by 38-52% and increased their perceived predation risk by 16-38%.

Use Cases

• Quantifying the impact of barn owl nest box deployment on rodent pest abundance using chew block grid data.
• Analyzing shifts in rodent perceived predation risk based on giving-up density (GUD) tray measurements.
• Modeling the relationship between vegetation cover and predator-prey advantage using camera trap activity data.
• Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of barn owls as a biological control agent in viticulture.

Strengths

• Dataset provides quantified effect sizes, reporting a 38-52% reduction in rodent abundance and a 16-38% increase in perceived predation risk.
• Study design incorporates multiple measurement methods (chew blocks, GUD trays, camera traps) to assess different behavioral and population metrics.
• Has a clear temporal (Feb-Jul 2023) and spatial (six vineyards in Napa Valley, CA) scope for reproducibility.

Limitations

• Column names and a precise row count are not provided, limiting understanding of the data's granular structure.
• The dataset's future update date (2026-03-21) is inconsistent with the study period, suggesting a placeholder or planned update.

Provenance

Source

Matthew Johnson

Collection Method

Field survey deploying chew block grids, giving-up density (GUD) trays, and camera traps while monitoring barn owl nest boxes.

Time Range

February 2023 to July 2023

Freshness

Last updated metadata indicates 2026-03-21, which is a future date.

Geography

Napa Valley, California, USA (six winegrape vineyards)