Barn Owl Project
A special program of the Lycoming Audubon Society in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission
| Barn Owls (Tyto alba) get their name from their frequent use of human-made structures such as barns and silos when natural tree cavities are unavailable. They are easily identified by their large white or brownish heart-shaped facial feathers and dark eyes. Their nearly pure white to dusky under parts and abrupt "scream-like" screeching vocalization and moth-like flight distinguish them from other owls. Barn owls have a variety of other calls including a hissing often repeated continuously by hungry nestlings. None of the Barn owls' calls are "hooting" Sounds attributed to typical Owls. |
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Barn owls are nocturnal and have highly specialized vision and hearing, which they use very successfully to locate their prey in darkness. Their main diet consists of small rodents (mice, rats, and voles). The Barn owl is protected by law and is considered to be an important and beneficial species. They are declining in some areas of the U.S. and are Listed as Threatened or Endangered in some states. Reasons for their decline vary geographically and include: Changing land use such as "clean farming," Habitat loss, Lack of nesting and roosting sites, Cold weather, Lack of sufficient prey, and Environmental toxins. During severely cold and wet winters many local owls die or migrate to warmer regions. The life span of the Barn owl is short and many die in their first year. However, there are records from banded Barn owls living as long as 14 years. |
| You can help and
Encourage this
species in Pennsylvania by placing a nest box on your property and /or
making your barn or silo accessible for entry by owls.
There are many areas in North Central Pennsylvania that were once forested but have been changed to open grassland and agricultural fields and are favored by Barn owls. |
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| Nest box Placement
*Determine suitability of the area:
open grassland such as pasture, weeds, marsh edges, young tree
plantations, large clearings in woodlands. If these areas support a
high population of rodents and shrews, a nest box placed close to or within 1/2
mile would be beneficial. Barn owls are not usually found in dense
woodlands.
*Nest boxes may be placed inside barns or silos or on the exterior wall. Placement in suitable trees can also result in success if the box is facing the open habitat and is not enclosed by branches pre-venting easy access by the owl. *Nest boxes provide shelter and safety from weather and predators and eliminate accidental falls by the young. *Nest boxes should be mounted high in buildings and trees (a minimum of 15-20 feet high). *Nest boxes should be cleaned of old pellet material every year before the nesting season between January and February, or in the fall. *Make certain that other unwanted animals have not taken over the box (squirrels, pigeons, hornets, etc.) |
How to find Barn
Owls
*Check with local bird and wildlife
authorities to find out if Barn owls have been recorded in your area.
*Look around for their favorite roosting and nest sites, including: tree cavities (minimum 6" diameter), barns, silos, or abandoned buildings. *Look for owl "Pellets" (indigestible, regurgitated bones and fur of the prey) and "white-wash" (fecal remains) on the sides of barns and silos or below a roost site. These are clues of their presence. *Listen after dark for their shrieks and begging calls. *If you locate owls, enjoy them from a distance so you won't disturb them. This is especially important during nesting to prevent desertion by the adults. What to do if you find an orphaned or injured owl: Some precautions are necessary to protect your hands from the sharp owl talons. Use a jacket, towel, or blanket to place over the owl. Grasp the owl carefully in the blanket and place it in a cardboard box. Put the box in a warm, dark, quiet place. Call a nearby Game Commission Officer or a local Wildlife rehabilitator. |
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Information on how to construct a nest box or "adopt " a nest box can be obtained be contacting: Project coordinators: Steve Pinkerton, (570) 494-1308, and Wayne Laubscher or write to: Lycoming Audubon Society P.O. Box 4053 Williamsport, PA 17701 |
This page was last updated on
10/01/06
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