Barn owl crowned Audubon's 'Bird of the Year'

[Donna]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/15/barn-owl-crowned-audubons-bird-year/

[Bobbie Ireland]

Happy to see that the Barn Owl is thriving somewhere... but sad to read Donna's earlier post re their difficulties in the Big Freeze in the UK... and probably here as well. We used to see one down the road at what everyone calls "The Bad Bends" - but alas, not in a while now. Another problem for them is that loads of old barns and farm outbuildings are being razed or converted. Thus fewer cavities for nesting. I must check re putting up an owl box in the big old Beech at the end of our piece of ground. Meanwhile, I am not sure there is anything one can do to ease their plight in our freezing conditions... short of a spot of mouse-catching...

[MAK]

They are such beauties! 

[Patti from Kentucky]

Happy to see that the Barn Owl is thriving somewhere... but sad to read Donna's earlier post re their difficulties in the Big Freeze in the UK... and probably here as well. We used to see one down the road at what everyone calls "The Bad Bends" - but alas, not in a while now. Another problem for them is that loads of old barns and farm outbuildings are being razed or converted. Thus fewer cavities for nesting. I must check re putting up an owl box in the big old Beech at the end of our piece of ground. Meanwhile, I am not sure there is anything one can do to ease their plight in our freezing conditions... short of a spot of mouse-catching...

We're having trouble in Kentucky (all all across the South, I think) with temperatures that have been well below normal, with ice and/or snow on the ground, so I suspect the rodent-eating raptors aren't doing too well here either.  We've also been having the same problem with old barns and farm building being lost as family farms give way to subdivisions, so much so that our local raptor rehabilitation center has gotten into the business of raising baby barn owls.  They have a non-releasable pair that does the initial business of raising them, so they don't get imprinted on humans, they release live prey into their cages as the birds are growing up to help them learn to hunt, and then I think the rehab center tries to find a willing farmer to put up a nest box and they "hack" the young birds near that property hoping the birds will stay around and eventually nest.  So they're trying to bring the population back up in the state.

[Donna]

Birds of prey struggle with white Norfolk winter


Some birds of prey in Norfolk are struggling to survive due to the lengthy wintry conditions.

The RSPB received an increase in calls during December from member of the public who found dead birds.

It's thought the birds are unable to find the food they need due to the blanket of frozen snow.

"Hawks and owls find it particularly difficult this time of year," said Nigel Middleton from the Hawk and Owl Trust at Sculthorpe Moor in Norfolk.

It's not just the layer of snow that causes problems, the bad weather means that smaller birds, which would be a food source to owls and hawks, stay together and are much more aware of predators.

"A lot of raptors, buzzards, kestrels and tawny owls are feeding on carrion [dead animals], but even they have been covered up," said Nigel.

The problem is likely to be most serious for barn owls born this year that are less experienced at dealing with difficult conditions.

It is thought that these first year birds will account for a high percentage of the mortality.

As well as a number of dead birds being brought to various RSPB centres across the UK, Norfolk's Hawk and Owl Trust has also been inundated.

"We're not a rescue organisation but in our centre last week we had seven tawny owls brought to us - they were all underweight."

Farmers and members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any sick or injured-looking owls to a wildlife rescue centre immediately.