Estudio Retrospectivo De Las Principales Causas De Ingreso De Búhos (Familia Strigidae) Atendidos En El Centro De Atención Y Valoración De Fauna Silvestre (Cav) De Corponor, Norte De Santander, Colombia.

Abstract

This retrospective-descriptive study analyzed the clinical records of 290 individuals from the family Strigidaes admitted to the Wildlife Attention and Assessment Center (CAV) of Corponor in Norte de Santander, Colombia, between 2014 and 2025. Data were collected on species, origin, cause of admission, clinical condition, and final outcome. Megascops choliba (tropical screech owl) was the most frequently admitted species (74.83%), followed by Asio stygius (stygian owl) and Asio clamator (striped owl). The main causes of admission were physical trauma (49.58%) and orphaned condition (25.21%). Among trauma cases, fractures and open wounds were the most common injuries. A total of 60.37% of M. choliba individuals were successfully released, while other species showed mortality rates exceeding 50%. Weaknesses were identified in the diagnosis of intoxications and electrocution, as well as in the recording of origin data. The findings underscore the need for species-specific protocols, more rigorous diagnostic practices, and strengthened clinical information systems to optimize the management, rehabilitation, and conservation of nocturnal birds of prey in wildlife care centers.