Barn Owls in Peril

WS

Sad news for the barn owl - let's hope too many don't suffer but it's a hard one as you can't supplement their diet with other things.

Lai

That is really sad news WS. As the article and Lai say, it is a tough one as you can't help with feeding. Lets hope we don't loose too many, it would be a shame for it to affect the number of Barn Owls we have, I would hate to see them at risk.
There are reports that we are going to have this type of winter more frequently so I am not sure what will happen to the Barn Owl, it may be one for the wildlife experts to think about.

littlewid-x-

This is indeed sad to hear.I haven't really known much about owls but about 2-3 days ago this owl appeared at my window.I found this really surprising since I live in a city surrounded by flats and it was daytime too(about 8 in the morning). I just had to take pictures of it since i had never seen an owl before except probably at a zoo! So I've been doing some reading on them now
I cant be sure of what kind of owl it was but it does look a lot like barn owl. So its definitely sad to read news like this

Barn owls do seem more scarce in recent years you rarely see them now although I did see two around 6 months ago.
The trouble is as farm building are lost or converted this loss of habitat impacts on numbers along with the loss of orchards which are in decline & wild flower meadows which are also in decline each of which impacts on the whole Eco structure & inevitable impacts on the lower part of the food chain which has an inevitable knock on for that which is above. I have planted a small orchard for that very reason.
its hard enough for them without the weather being against them.

That's great news about your orchard EG - we're lucky enough to have some owls here, not to good on my owls but I believe we've a barn owl as well as tawny owl.

Lai

We have loads of tawny owls here last night when I was putting sage back in her mews they were going mad I think they could see sage which made them even loader than normal I would guess I heard at least 5 different birds probably more. Most years we go into the garden follow the sounds in the dark then when we can pinpoint their position we switch on the torch which usually shuts them up for a few mins then they carry on as if we are not there, it’s all really nice normally its earlier in the year & as there are a number of them we have realised it’s the parents & that years young.

A falconer pal of mine had a Bengal and the wild Tawnys made that much noise the neighbours complained to the authorities and he had to sell.Some folk just don't belong in the countryside.

Re Barn Owls,it's not the cold that kills them,it's a lack of suitable habitat to hunt and suitable roosting spots.Too many humans living in nice old barns is one of the problems.

Two owls hooting away last night - tawny I think and one was right outside in the apple tree or if it wasn't it sounded like it was.

Lai Pai

I am sure it was they are easy to pinpoint the sound so if it sounded like it came from there it probably did. next time if they are low don’t go to close but shine a very bright torch & you will see it but if its higher than say 15 feet get right under it & put the torch on it hopefully after a little while it will carry on calling without taking to much notice of you or the torch, if you toot at it they will normally call back.
good luck & let me know how you get on.
most people think when they hear the two tone’s of a tawny owl at mating time that its one bird this is normally not the case the male makes one part the female makes the other not all the time but mostly.

Hear is a clip of two Eurasians communicating note the white vocal patch on her neck as explained in the eagle owl section of my web site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gnzzMjbOpw

Thanks EG - I'll have a go at that, and thanks for the link.

Lai Pai