Nonvolantis Balticus

Baltican Gnome Owl
Nonvolantis Balticus
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Order:	Strigiformes
Family:	Strigidae
Genus:	Nonvolantis
Species:	Balticus

The Baltican Gnome Owl ( Nonvolantis Balticus ) is a species of owl exclusive to Baltica, specifically the Kunijan Mountains and the Dokestvan Peninsula. The Baltican Gnome Owl is unique, in the sense that unlike many owl species, it is incapable of flying. Instead, it borrows, usually around large forests or hills, and hunts smaller prey like rodents. Similarly to its common owl species, it is nocturnal, and hunts regularly in the night, made easier by its especially good eyes.

Description

The Baltican Gnome Owl shares many characteristics with its owl brethren. It possesses large eyes, especially adapted to its nocturnal lifestyle. Additionally, it has forward-facing ears, a hawk-like beak and a relatively flat face. Unlike its regular owl counterparts, it is usually much larger, mainly due to the fact that it is unable to fly. Additionally, its bones are relatively whole, instead of being hollow like most bird species. This makes it much sturdier than most bird species, able to withstand heavy blunt blows. Although the Baltican Gnome Owl is still small in comparison to mammals, they can typically be anywhere from 40 to 50 cm, or up to 15 to 19 Inches. Despite not being able to use their wings for flight, it's common for the Baltican Gnome to spread their wings, which can have a wingspan of up to 20 to 30 cm.

Most Baltican Gnome Owls are coloured brown or grey, which allows them to blend into the common tree or hill foliage. Additionally, their grey appearance allows them to remain hidden in their burrows, which they commonly nest in. However, during winter, most Baltican Gnome Owls develop lighter and more white feathers, as it allows them to blend in with snow. However, this is exclusive to the Nonvolantic Balticus which are found in the Kunijan Mountains, and less so in the Dokestvan Peninsula. Due to the warmer conditions within the peninsula, and the higher amount of clay and sand, many Baltican Gnome Owls in the area have adapted to have an orange tone, which allows them to further blend into their native area.

The skeletal structure of the Baltican Gnome has undergone significant changes to accommodate its terrestrial lifestyle. Their bones are denser than those of flying owls, providing greater support and stability when running. These adaptations help distribute the weight of the bird more efficiently, reducing the stress on their bones. The pelvis and hind limb bones are particularly robust, enabling them to take strides and leaps on the forest floor. The keel, which is prominent in flying birds for the attachment of powerful flight muscles, is notably reduced in the Baltican Gnome Owl. One of the most remarkable features of the Baltican Gnome Owl is its robust leg musculature. Their legs are significantly more developed and muscular compared to flying owls. These strong legs are their primary means of locomotion on the forest floor. They have evolved into efficient runners, able to pursue prey and navigate their terrestrial environment with agility.

Their feet are equipped with sharp talons, which they use to capture and subdue their prey, much like their flying counterparts. These talons are essential tools for their survival, allowing them to grasp and hold onto their prey securely. Baltican Gnome Owls also have specialised Sense Glands, which are often used to mark territory, and the secretions produce a notable odour which can be noticed even by humans.

Behaviour and Reproduction Patterns

All Baltican Gnome Owls are nocturnal, meaning they mostly operate during the night or time periods of low sunlight. For much of the day, they either borrow or rest to prepare for the night. Much of this is because of their powerful eyes, which are specially adapted to dark or low visibility. This allows them to both see during hunting at night and to easily wander and dig their large borrow networks. Besides their nocturnal lifestyle, Baltican Gnome Owls are also very territorial, often fighting and cannibalising other Nonvolantis Balticus in order to preserve their territory. Territory is often commonly marked through secretion or defecation, which produces a noticeable smell. Additionally, vocalisation is commonly used, as Baltican Gnome Owls are “chatting”, often emitting loud mating and marking calls all throughout the night.

If ever the Nonvolantis Balticus feels threatened or endangered, it will often flap its wings, or spread them out to increase its size. This is why if a Baltican Gnome Owl is fully spread, it's best to not approach, as they are known to strike if they feel threatened. Although Baltican Gnome Owls commonly forge during periods when other food sources are otherwise unavailable, they do not mark the territory in which they forge, although the reason for this is unknown. Borrows are often marked, although within the Kunijan it's much more common to see various Nonvolantis Balticus share the same large borrow, or have large borrows which intersect one another. This is believed to be caused by harsher conditions within the Kunijan, and the lesser amount of readily available rodents.

An artificial borrow for a Baltican Gnome Owl.

Reproduction Patterns

The Baltican Gnome Owl follows a very specific breeding pattern, specially adapted to its more terrestrial lifestyle as well as the physical environment of their burrows. “Mating Season” for the Nonvolantis Balticus usually takes place during late spring or early summer, during which male and female Gnome Owls breed within their burrows and produce anywhere from 2-8 eggs. These eggs take anywhere from 3 weeks to a Month to hatch. The reason for mating in summer and spring is usually because of the larger availability of both forage goods as well as rodents. In the Kunijan however, it's common to see large periods of time when the Gnome Owls do not reproduce at all, again mainly due to the lesser availability of food.

When selecting a mate, female Baltican Gnome Owls typically look for larger and more physically dominant males. As such, it's common to see Gnome Owls “Spreading” around female Gnome Owls during the spring and summer. This spreading is both an attempt to make oneself appear bigger and a way to show physical dominance.

Habitat

The Baltican Gnome Owl is commonly found in large forested areas, as well as hills and mountains. Typically, they can be found around areas with soft soils, as they require soft soils in order to dig their burrows. For that same reason, they are not typically found in areas of high precipitation, as that can often flood or remove the structural integrity of their burrows. For these reasons, the Nonvolantis Balticus is found in two main areas of Baltica, the Kunijan Mountains and the Dokestvan Peninsula. Nonvolantis Balticus within Dokestva can be mainly found within the hilly and mountainous interior, as well as along the Southern Coast of the Bay of Austen. There, the soil tends to be softer, and the larger availability of water sources allows for larger populations of rodents, the Gnome Owls' primary source of food. Meanwhile, the Nonvolantis Balticus around the Kunijan Mountains can be found along the Western and Eastern spans of the respective mountains and hills. The population of Gnome owls is much more predominant around the West, as the large amounts of densely forested areas and rivers make for a perfect habitat for the Nonvolantis Balticus.