Background Information: -Nocturnal Predator (Niche) -Consumes gophers, rats, and mice (typically 2-3 per night) -42 inch wingspan -Size of a small cat, but only weighs about one pound -Due to “fringed edged feathers” the Barn Owl can fly silently -Large sharp talons -Sharp Curved beak -Satellite dish shaped face -Nest in natural hollows in trees, caves, cliffs, chimneys, barns, and other man-made structures -Lay 4-7 eggs, sometimes more though -Eggs incubate for 29-34 days -Can reproduce at less than a year old Level on the List: -Species of Concern -Not on the U.S. endangered list Why there’s Concern: -Changing hunting land -Loss of nesting sites -Chemical pesticides in eggs Recovery Plans: -PA Game Commission started Owl Conservation Initiative oBuilding Barn Owl Boxes to give the species homes -Modern Farms oMost modern farms have used Barn Owl Boxes on their farms to keep rodents from their crops. Sources: http://www.barnowlvideo.com/facts.html http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=516&q=168073 Brauning, D.W. (ed.). 1992. Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania Univ. of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA. 484 pp.
BARN OWL (Tyto Alba) by Liz and Nicole
Background Information:
- Nocturnal Predator (Niche)
- Consumes gophers, rats, and mice (typically 2-3 per night)
- 42 inch wingspan
- Size of a small cat, but only weighs about one pound
- Due to “fringed edged feathers” the Barn Owl can fly silently
- Large sharp talons
- Sharp Curved beak
- Satellite dish shaped face
- Nest in natural hollows in trees, caves, cliffs, chimneys, barns, and other man-made structures
- Lay 4-7 eggs, sometimes more though
- Eggs incubate for 29-34 days
- Can reproduce at less than a year old
Level on the List:
- Species of Concern
- Not on the U.S. endangered list
Why there’s Concern:
- Changing hunting land
- Loss of nesting sites
- Chemical pesticides in eggs
Recovery Plans:
- PA Game Commission started Owl Conservation Initiative
o Building Barn Owl Boxes to give the species homes
- Modern Farms
o Most modern farms have used Barn Owl Boxes on their farms to keep rodents from their crops.
Sources:
http://www.barnowlvideo.com/facts.html
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=516&q=168073
Brauning, D.W. (ed.). 1992. Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania Univ. of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA.
484 pp.