The Barn Owl

In an average night, the barn owl can eat from 1/3 to 1/2 its own weight in rodents.

As its name implies, it frequently nests in barns and other man-made structures, although its natural nesting locations are generally tree cavities and rock crevices Its white appearance and night-time calls and hisses led many farmers to believe it was an apparition. Because of this and the mistaken notion that it was destructive to farm animals, it was often hunted as a pest. Farmers now recognize that it is a valuable ally because it helps save crops and feed by reducing the number of rodents.

The Barn Owl has excellent eyesight and hearing. Experiments have shown that its hearing is so acute that it can locate and capture prey in total darkness. Add to the keen sense of hearing its silent flight (as with all owls, the tips of the primary flight feathers are serrate rather than rounded allowing air to pass over without noisy buffeting), and the result is a very effective predator. Photo by Bob Shomler .

Resource: National Audobon Society

E-mail Today's WPC Daily to a Friend!

Thanks for celebrating western Pennsylvania with us this year.
WPC presents a free "Thanksgiving in western Pennsylvania" Screensaver to WPC Daily Subscribers

Sign Up for WPC Daily

Become a Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Member

Vote for your favorite photo/fact from last month

View the winning WPC Daily (Makes a great screen wallpaper for November)