LORNA ASHWORTH

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Contents

Barn owl page 1.

<reg>Tawny</reg> owl 9.

Short-Eared owl 13.

Long Eared owl 17.

A project about owls written and <reg>illustrated</reg> by <name key="Lorna Ashworth">.

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THE BARN OWL

The barn owl is one of the world's <reg>most</reg> widespread land birds, occurring on all continents except Antarctica. It is known as The screech owl - a name that testifies to its eerie, strangled call. The barn owl is <reg>adapted</reg> to hunting by night once persecuted by gamekeepers in the belief that it took <reg>nestlings</reg>, it has long been encouraged to nest in farmers' storage barns, <reg>which</reg> it swiftly <reg>rids</reg> of troublesome rodents.

DID YOU KNOW?

The barn owl has a wealth of local names in Britain. <reg>These</reg> include billy owl, gilly white, jenny owl, willow owl and <unclear>. The barn owl is generally considered a non-migratory species, but individuals move long distances. European birds have travelled over 1000km, while their North American couterparts have been recorded moving <reg>nearly</reg> 2000km. Barn owls have been released into The Seychelles Islands in attempt to <reg>control</reg> the rat Population. They have found it <reg>easier</reg> to prey on unique local bird species, however, and islanders are now trying to eliminate them.

BREEDING

In February <sic>of</sic> early march a barn owl pair settles into its nesting site To breed. This may be a site used for many past seasons, perhaps in the roof of an old barn or a tree hole. No nest is built, and the female lays her three to six eggs directly on the timbers of the bare tree cavity. the female alone incubates The clutch, but she is fed at The nest by The male. She lays an egg every two to three days; The young hatch at similar intervals, with a considerable size difference between the first and last hatchlings. The younger owlets of some large broods may be devoured by older nestlings, more surprisingly, there are records of older owlets taking food from adults to give to their younger relations. The female stops brooding the chicks when the youngest is 10 days old after which Time both Parents bring them food. The owlets fly at 55-60 days and are fully independent some four weeks later.

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Barn Owl

A Barn <reg>Owl</reg> in flight

A <reg>Barn Owl</reg> chick <sic>rest</sic> after breaking out of its shell

A 28-day old chick

The white down soon changes to buff.

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Food & HUNTING

The barn owl is a highly efficient predator. It drops upon and seizes unsuspecting prey, either when flying up and down a field edge or ditch bank, or from <NOTE desc="word/s missing?"> prominent perch on a gate or fence post. the owl is physically well adapted to night-time hunting. large eyes with binocular (forward-facing and overlapping) vision enable it to judge distance very accurately. Keen hearing enables it to detect the <reg>quietest</reg> rustle in the grass. key to its success, however, is its silent flight - aided by very soft feathering, particularly on the leading edge of the wing. Even the bird's legs and feet are covered in down so that, as they swing forward <sic>the</sic> grasp victim any noise is kept to a minimum. The barn owl preys mainly on <reg>short-tailed</reg> vole - in many areas this rodent <sic>comprise</sic> nearly 90 per cent, by weight, of the <reg>owl's</reg> food. In the east of Britain the brown rat is the bird's chief victim. This adaptable hunter also takes fish, frogs and lizards. It may snatch bats from the air, and prey on birds as diverse as rook, snipe and lapwing.

HABITS

Although principally a night-active species the barn owl <reg>occasionally</reg> shows itself during <sic>day light</sic>. This is most likely when the bird is feeding young, or in very cold weather when hunting is difficult. A bird of farmland, open woodland and Parkland, the barn owl is often seen hunting over road-side hedges. Sadly, this often results in fatalities. In an analysis of 320 ringed birds, over 20 percent were killed on Roads or Railways. Although population density varies in relation to available prey supplies, an individual pair will defend its own territory. Normally a sufficient screech to <reg>warn</reg> away intruders, but at times <reg>territorial</reg> defence can be very aggresive. Two birds may come to blows and even indulge in aerial combat.

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Barn <reg>Owl</reg>

A <reg>Barn Owl</reg> in his barn

Key

Wall <gap desc="colour key">

Wood <gap desc="colour key">

The owl swivels its head for all-round vision and hearing

Over a long <reg>journey</reg> the <reg>barn</reg>owl carries prey in its beak

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Key Facts

SIZES

Length: 33-35cm.

Wingspan: 85-90cm

Weight: 265-310g.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1-2 years

Breeding Season: April-June (<reg>Western</reg> <reg>Europe</reg>)

Broods: Rarely more than 1.

incubation: 30-31 days

fledging period: 55-60 days

Eggs 3-9

<reg> LIFESTYLE</reg>

Habit: Solitary or in pairs

Diet: mainly voles, rats and shrews. also some birds.

Call: screech, hiss or snore.

Lifespan: Up to 18 years in the wild, longer in captivity, but few live longer than 2 years.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 10 species in the genus Tyto. The barn owl is divided into 35 subspecies.

<reg>DISTRIBUTION</reg>

The 35 subspecies of barn owl occur on all <reg>continents</reg> except Antarctica. some of subspecies are confined to small Oceanic islands, while others cover entire continents.

CONSERVATION

The British population totals some 10,000 <reg>individuals</reg> in recent years a decline has occurred, probably through <reg>changing</reg> farming practices and loss of suitable nest sites.

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<gap desc="colour key"> Range of the <reg>Barn Owl</reg>

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HOW THE BARN OWL HEARS

The barn owl has superb hearing. and a large part of its brain is <reg>devoted</reg> to sorting out the sounds it hears. The ears are asymmetrically sited on the barn <reg>owl's</reg> head; one lies up near the owl's equivalent of a forehead and the other is level with <sic>nostril</sic>. The ears are so sensitive that they are surrounded by small, feathered flaps which can be closed over the delicate inner parts if noise levels rise too high. On still nights however these flaps can be erected to catch the faint squeaks and rustles of tiny prey. Using its ears alone the owl can pinpoint the position of a small creature. it can time the interval between the reception of the sound to each ear as humans do but with far greater <reg>accuracy</reg>

ORDER Strigiformes

FAMILY Tytonidae

GENUS & SPECIES Tyto alba

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The BARN OWL

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TAWNY OWL

Despite the fact that it is <reg>nocturnal</reg> and <reg>therefore</reg> more often heard <NOTE desc="word/s missing?"> seen, the hooting " <sic>hoo hoo-hoohoo</sic> " call of the tawny owl actually makes it one of the most familiar of British birds. The Tawny owl is common throughout Europe where its colouring varies <NOTE desc="word/s missing?"> grey to the more familiar red-brown seen in Britain. A natural-born hunter, it swoops swiftly on its prey and can even catch a bat in flight.

DID YOU KNOW?

As well as the familiar hooting call, tawny owls also <reg>produce</reg> a loud " <sic>Ke-wick</sic> " call a bubbling trill, a loud moaning and a loud hissing noise. Tawny owls locate their prey by ear, turning their heads slowly to pinpoint the location of prey by sound and then pouncing <NOTE desc="word/s or punctuation missing?"> there is a high death rate among owlets as they are forced to find <reg>their</reg> own territory almost as soon as they become independent. If adjacent territories are occupied the young are unable to hunt and starve to death.

BREEDING

Tawny <reg>Owls</reg> <reg>form</reg> pairs and select nest sites in the autumn. A hole in a mature <reg>deciduous</reg> tree is a favourite site, but disused nests, <sic>of</sic> crevices in rocks and buildings may also be used They advertise their territory with a short " <sic>hooo</sic> " followed by a wavering " <sic>hoo-hoohoo-hoohoohoo</sic> " . <reg>Courtship</reg> involves the male <reg>bringing</reg> food to the female several weeks <reg>before</reg> mating <reg>Sometimes</reg> a swaying display will take place and <reg>mutual</reg> preening also cements the bond. The female incubates the 2-5 eggs. She starts with the first egg which means that the chicks hatch at intervals and then sits on the chicks <NOTE desc="word/s or punctuation missing?"> While the <reg>male</reg> brings food fledging takes about five weeks. The young <NOTE desc="word/s missing?"> fed by the parents until <sic>the</sic> are 2-3 months old <sic>the</sic> are eventually evicted from the nest and have to find a suitable territory of their own.

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Tawny owl

With its sharp talons outstretched the tawny owl swoops down on a field mouse

<note desc="written vertically">Tawny Owl</note>

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FOOD & HUNTING.

As a truly nocturnal bird, the tawny owl's hunting takes place at night. Its technique is to wait quietly on a perch and then glide down, the soft fringes on its flight feathers killing any noise the bird might make while moving through the air the tawny <reg>owl's</reg> hearing is so good that it can pinpoint prey even when it is too dark to see. The Tawny owl's diet can be quite varied and often depends on habitat in woodland, they eat mainly small rodents with some birds, shrews, worms and beetles. In more urban areas, they will eat a higher proportion of small birds <reg>such</reg> as sparrows and starlings. They have even been known to eat fish from garden ponds

SIZES

Length: 37-39cm

Weight: 400-530g

Wingspan: 94-104cm.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1-2 years

Breeding Season: <reg>February</reg> June

Eggs. 2-5 white one brood

incubation period: 28-30 days

fledging: 32-37 days.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: mainly resident. Pairs for life. Usually monogamous.

Diet small mammals birds amphibians, worms and Beetles

Lifespan: oldest wild bird, 19 years old.

RELATED SPECIES

There are two closely related species in Europe, the Ural Owl, Strix uralensis and the great Grey owl, Strix nebulosa Both are larger than the tawny owl.

DISTRIBUTION

Europe except <reg>northern</reg> Scandinavia parts of north Africa Western USSR Afghanistan and China.

CONSERVATION

Not <reg>uncommon</reg> over most of its range. As with many birds of Prey, it suffered as a result of organochlorine <reg>pesticides</reg> like DDT. In Britain there are 50-100,000 pairs The tawny owl is absent from Ireland. The Tawny owl seems purpose-built for hunting. little <sic>escape</sic> its sharp <sic>eye</sic> or ears and its soft plumage and down fringed under-wings enable it to fly <reg>silently</reg> down onto an unsuspecting victim

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The Tawny owl

An owl catches its prey!

<gap desc="colour key"> Range of tawny owls

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SHORT-EARED OWL

The short-eared owl lives in the open spaces of marshes and moorland, although it also frequents conifer plantations where it can be assured of a good supply of voles. The short-eared owl has bold yellow eyes that gives it a fiercesome-looking expression as it searches the ground, from its observation post for signs of prey. It can be seen all the year round in Britain, but many pairs migrate to warmer climes during the winter.

DID YOU Know

The short "ears" that give this owl its common name are not ears at all, but tufts of tiny feathers. The ears themselves are not normally visible. one migrating short-<reg>eared</reg> owl <reg>travelled</reg> 3345km from Tunisia to Arkangel in the USSR - the longest recorded journey made by this species.

BREEDING

April heralds the start of the breeding season. During this period the male makes circling display flights over the breeding territory while singing his courtship song to attract a female. After mating the pair will scrape out a hollow on the ground and line it with dry plant material. The eggs are laid at two-day intervals and the female incubates each egg for 24-28 days. relying on her mate to bring her food the young hatch with their eyes closed and are covered in a white down <reg>which</reg> soon changes to a light buff colour. both parents feed the chicks. They are caring. and will defend their brood vigorously against any intruder. when the chicks are little more than a fortnight old they will explore the area around the nest, hiding in the <reg>undergrowth</reg>. They are fledged at 24-27 days but stay within the nest area until they are competent fliers. In good conditions, the parents may raise a second brood in the same year their offspring will be ready to breed by the following spring.

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The Short-Eeared owl

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HABITS

In flight the Short-eared owl behaves rather like the harrier, as it quarters the ground below in a series of hovers, or glides and weaves with its wings formed into a shallow V-shape. if cornered on the ground, the owl will try to scare its enemy by spreading its wings and ruffling is feathers: this way the owl looks much larger than it really is. This impressive threat behaviour is typical of several ground nesting birds. many short-eared owls breed in Britain, But <reg>usually</reg> spend the winter in Ireland, France, Spain <NOTE desc="word/s or punctuationmissing?">other parts of <reg>Southern</reg> Europe. Some of the owls seen in Britain in the winter months are migrants, mostly from <reg>Scandinavia</reg> and will not return home until the start of the breeding season.

Food & HUNTING

The owl <reg>hunts</reg> during the <sic>day time</sic>. Quartering the ground below in search of small mammals such as voles and mice, the Short-eared owl relies on its excellent sight and hearing to locate prey. <reg>When</reg> not hunting from the air the owl will sit silently on a lookout post waiting and watching. once prey has been located the owl will swoop down and seize the victim in its sharp talons. The prey is swallowed head-first and whole while the bird is on the ground. Indigestible material such as bones and fur is regurgitated in the form of a pellet.

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KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 36-39cm.

Weight: 280-360gm.

Wingspan: 95-110cm

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1 year

Breeding Season April-June

EGGS 4,-10 White

Incubation period: 24-28 <sic>day</sic> per egg

Fledging 24-27 days

<reg>LIFESTYLE</reg>

Habit: usually seen singly or at most in pairs

Diet: mainly voles <reg>but</reg> will take <reg>other</reg> small rodents.

Call High-<reg>pitched</reg> " <sic>kew</sic> " sound when disturbed. Male <reg>courting</reg> sound is a dull-sounding <sic>boo-boo</sic> noise young hisses.

<reg>RELATED</reg> SPECIES

The short-eared owl often shares its range with the nocturnal long-eared owl Asia otus.

<reg>DISTRIBUTION</reg>

Breeds in <reg>northern</reg> <reg>United States</reg>, South America, northern Europe, Asia. Winters in <reg>Southern</reg> United States, Southern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, India and Southern Asia

Conservation

Appears to be in no danger at present. in a year when voles are <reg>scarce</reg> there are about 1000 pairs in Britain and there <reg>may</reg> be up to 10,000 pairs in the year after a glut of voles

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The Short-Eared owl

<gap desc="colour key"> Range of the short-eared owl

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Long-EARED Owl

One of the most elusive of birds, the long-eared is a <reg>skilful</reg> predator which emerges at night on silent wings to haunt the woods of Europe, Asia and North America. The long eared owl's ears have nothing to do with its keen hearing. but are just feathery tufts that stand erect when the owl is <reg>alert</reg>. The real ears, on the sides of the head, enable the owl to detect the <reg>faintest</reg> squeak of a far-distant vole

DID YOU <reg>KNOW</reg>

The long-Eared owl has such a flexible neck that it can turn its head through 270 degrees. When a long- eared owl moves <reg>into</reg> an area <NOTE desc="word/s missing?"> woodland, small birds band. together to mob it in the hope of driving it away. During the cold weather of autumn and winter, small parties of long-eared owls may join up in a wood to roost together.

BREEDING

Courtship begins early in spring, sometimes before the owl performs a courtship display in which it claps its wings together in a slow, lazy flight. The long-eared owl rarely builds its own nest, taking over and adding material to the abandoned nest of other birds such as crows, hawks, magpies and ravens it may even use a squirrel's <reg>drey</reg>. in open country such as heath-land the long-Eared</reg> owl may build its nest on the ground. the female lays 4-6 pure white eggs, slightly smaller than those of a hen. Incubation starts as soon as the first egg is laid, so, the young do not hatch at once The male does not share the incubation, but keeps his mate and the owlets well supplied with food, passing it to the female to give to the young. In years when food is scarce, only the larger, older <sic>hatch-lings</sic> survive. The owlets are covered with white down. Their plumage turns grey and then brown within a few days. To lure a predator from her young, the female may pretend to have a broken wing. The young leave the nest after 21-24 days and climb on nearby branches <reg>learning</reg> to balance <reg>and </reg> <reg>grip</reg> At 30 days they can fly and begin hunting after 60 days

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Food & Hunting

The owl feeds mostly on field mice, as well as large numbers of voles, shrews and rats. If nothing else is available it may take small birds, such as sparrows and finches, or even larger birds such as <reg>jays</reg>. When seeking food for the young the male catches large quantities of insects, especially beetles such as cockchafers. The long-Eared owl searches for prey over <reg>fields</reg> and other open country, gliding silently as it watches and listens closely for the slightest sign of prey. it has excellent night vision and acute hearing. when it detects the <reg>rustling</reg> of a small creature, it swoops with deadly accuracy.

HABITS

The owl is mainly a bird of pine woods, but is also found in mixed woodlands and has been known to nest on heaths and marshland. It is common in Europe, Asia, North America and north Africa it avoids very cold Areas and migrates Southwards from the <reg>northern</reg> part of its range in winter. Soft feathers give the owl its flight. At times, however especially during the breeding season, it can be noisy bird with a wide range of <reg>calls</reg> that echo through the <reg>coniferous</reg> and mixed woods. The main <note desc="uncertain punctuation">.</note> call is a long " <sic>oo-oo-oo</sic> " , which it <reg>repeats</reg> <reg>every</reg> few seconds it also utters a cat-like whine, a shrill whistle and a barking sound The young make a call, <reg>somewhere</reg> between a mew and the sound of a gate hinge that needs oiling. It is rarely seen flying by day, when it normally roosts, sitting very erect on a branch to look like a woody stump <sic>of</sic> <reg>flattened</reg> <NOTE desc="word/s missing?"> against a tree trunk, where its <reg desc="uncertain">mottled</reg> feathers blend with its back ground to provide excellent camouflage if <NOTE desc="uncertain punctuation">.</note> disturbed, the owl spreads its wings and utters hissing and snapping noises.

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KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 35-37cm.

Wingspan: 90-160cm.

Weight: 250-300g.

BREEDING

Breeding Season: March-April.

eggs: 4-6 white

No. of broods: 1.

Incubation period: 24-28 days

Fledging: 30 days

LIFESTYLE

Habit: mainly resident, <reg>northern</reg> birds move south in winter

Diet: Small rodents and small birds. young are fed on insects

RELATED SPECIES

The closest <reg>relative</reg> is <note desc="word/s missing?"> short-eared owl There are 4 other species in the genus; the stygion owl, the African marsh owl and the madagascar long-eared owl.

DISTRIBUTION

The long-eared owl inhabits the coniferous forests and mixed woodland of parts of North America, Europe and Asia, except for the most northerly regions. it is also found in north and northeast Africa

CONSERVATION

The long-eared owl <NOTE desc="word/s missing?"> common throughout most of its range. Humans are its only real enemy

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Long-EARED owl

Range of the <reg>long-eared owl</reg>

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