Barn Owl (Tyto alba) of the Britain and Ireland The Barn Owl (Tyto alba), is a beautifully coloured Owl and a familiar Owl of the UK and Ireland. These birds are also known as the Common Barn Owl and European Barn Owl. The plumage of the Barn Owl on the upper parts is a sandy colour with grey markings and small white dots. The underparts are white with a few grey specks. The face is white and heart shaped with black eyes in the shape of commas. They do not hoot like the Tawny owl but shriek. Barn Owls also have acute hearing which they rely on for hunting. The average lifespan of the Barn Owl is 4 to 6 years. Barn Owls live in barns, towers, ruins, woods and farm buildings. They remain hidden during the day. These birds hunt by night and their main source of food are rats, moles, mice and small birds which they catch on open ground. The majority of these Owls are sedentary birds, staying in their ranges throughout the year. Some wintering Barn Owls from the Continent join resident birds on the eastern side of the UK. During the breeding season, nests are situated on a ledge in a barn or in one of the other places they inhabit. Nesting begins in April. There is no nest except for a few twigs and feathers. Three to eight white eggs are laid. There are a few days between the laying of each egg, so they hatch at different times. The young will share a nest with eggs during the early stages. Eggs hatch after 32 to 34 days during which time the male feeds the female. The young fledge after approximately 60 days. The global population is not considered Vulnerable due to the wide range of these birds (Eurasia, Africa etc) (Birdlife International). The European population of Barn Owls is considered to be Declining . The Barn Owl is classified as of Least Concern by IUCN. The UK population increased by 279% between 1995 and 2011 (RSPB)where they are an amber listed species of bird. However the population of Barn Owl in the UK declined significantly from 2010 to 2013 (Guardian) due to unseasonally cold and wet weather. Barn Owls are red listed in Ireland due a 50% decline in the breeding population in the last 25 years (RTE). Reasons given for the decline include poisoning from pesticides, car accidents, ingestion of rat poison, unseasonally cold and wet weather conditions, and loss of nest sites. It has been suggested the Vole population may affect the breeding population of Barn Owls as Voles form up to 60% of the Barn Owls diet. A mediocre supply of Voles caused the breeding population to decline. The field vole is not present in Ireland and the bank vole inhabits only the south-west of Ireland. The UK government (announced in November 2014) are proposing to introduce a new law, the Infrastructure Bill, which gives new powers to eradicate invasive or non-native species (such as the grey squirrel). Barn Owls and other species of wildlife would be affected because they would be re-classified as non-native species. Native Species included in the Wildlife and Countryside Act would also be re-classified and includes those that have been re-introduced (Daily Express). The legal protection which a number of species have in the UK will be taken away. It is generally agreed the law is badly written with some describing it as bizarre.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 13:13:26 +0000
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