Bird Tales

The Barn Owl

A Barn Owl's face is supersonic. The heart shaped facial disk is a sensitive acoustic amplifier as well as a precise directional range finder. This amazing face allows the Barn Owl to efficiently locate and capture prey. The owl's diet is primarily rodents, such as mice and voles. Barn Owls can hear the footfalls of mice at distances approaching 100 ft. or more. The unseen mouse may think he is perfectly safe while scurrying along a mouse trail in tall grass, but this is exactly what the Barn Owl is counting on. When the Barn Owl targets a mouse, the surprised mouse is invariably doomed.

No other bird species has a wider global distribution than the Barn Owl, and they benefit from human population growth. Barn Owls prefer to hunt in open fields and meadows. Grain bins and other farm buildings are a good source of rodents as well, and these structures usually provide suitable nest sites. However, the Barn Owl population was in serious decline and the owl was placed on Audubon's Blue List from 1972-1981. Man is the greatest enemy of the Barn Owl and the owl was usually thought of as vermin until recently. Now many people are erecting nest boxes for Barn Owls because the economic importance of these owls is beginning to be realized.

Barn Owls usually produce 4 to 7 nestlings each Spring. The owlets develop quickly and can fly well enough to leave the nest in 7 or 8 weeks. When prey is abundant the parent owls will deliver dozens of rodents and other small prey to the nestlings. The demanding young hatchlings have been known to sometimes eat their own body weight in rodents within a 24 hour period. Although the white downy chicks remain clean, the ensuing rodent massacre creates a fetid dunghill around the nest. Before nesting season, it is prudent to make sure that all vents and other accesses to the attic in your home are secure.

The Barn Owl is also well equipped with keen night vision, silent graceful flight on long wings, and powerful talons. The Barn Owl is unsurpassed at rodent control. In agricultural and urban areas, the economic value of Barn Owls is very significant.