Barn Owls: Habitats, Habits, and Prey

Meet the Barn Owl & Related Subjects

Why Do We Explore Owls?

At night we sometimes hear owls without catching a glimpse of them. Owls are mysterious to us day-walkers and, let’s face it, this piques our curiosity. There are reasons for our cryptic curiosity, and these reasons play into owls’ mythological presence in art, literature, and folklore. There are also scientific reasons behind their mysterious behavior —behavior that helps ensure their survival in a world of predators and prey.

Throughout time, certain animals have captivated the human imagination. Tales of these iconic animals are told around campfires and in places of learning — even showing up in pop culture via movies, cartoons, advertising and gift shop merchandise. Predators in particular – be they lions, bears, wolves or owls —hold a distinct fascination for people of all ages. We are drawn to these mysterious animals.

We have much to learn about these peculiar creatures. Understanding owls’ ecological role in our present world and understanding the value they bring to both urban and rural environments is of vital importance. Kidwings hopes to broaden current understanding of predators by taking a scientific approach to looking at owls.

The study of owls can lead to a raised awareness of critical environmental issues, such as how we approach nature and how we live within a balanced ecosystem in a way that ensures future generations will enjoy the same flora and fauna that we presently enjoy.

The study of owls can also yield practical applications. For example, one study, reported in the Journal of Vision (July 2011), demonstrated the use of owls as a model to explore the advantages and mechanisms of stereo-vision (stereopsis), a capability they share with humans. [Source: Owls see in stereo much like humans do, Robert F. Van der Willigen, Journal of Vision, June 2011, Disparity sensitivity in man and owl: Psychophysical evidence for equivalent perception of shape-from-stereo, Robert F. van der Willigen, Wolf M. Harmening, Journal of Vision, January 2010]

Great Horned Owl

Owl pellets reveal a broad variety of prey

Photo credit: Chris Anderson

Other more common owl studies relate to owl pellets. Owl pellets are very important to science because, when we study the components of an owl pellet, we find bones of the animals that the owl has eaten. If a scientist finds small rodents and bats, it is possible to learn what species of prey live in a particular area. If a scientist picks up pellets regularly, then he or she can observe owl prey selection over time. The growth or decrease of the owl prey populations is indicated by the bones in the owls’ pellets.

Studying the abundance of these prey animals reveals critical information about potential pests (mice, voles, bats, birds, etc.) for farming communities and also provides information about diseases and their vectors that are present in an ecosystem. The main subject of this annual publication is Barn Owl ecology in relation to the bird’s habitat, habits, and prey selection. Information gathered in this publication relates to food webs while considering regional differences in Barn Owl subspecies. Kidwings strongly believes that dissecting owl pellets can help students develop better investigative skills, as these explorations encourage students to develop cognitive thinking skills in a fun and interesting manner.

This guide is divided into three sections: Habitat, Habits, and Prey. “Habitat” will reveal facts about where and how barn owls choose to raise their young and also includes information on how owls adapt to various niches. “Habits” will focus on some unique qualities and characteristics of the Barn Owl, including their special digestive system which makes them ideal to study. “Prey,” the final reading section, will focus on the relationship barn owls have with their food sources.

After completing Barn Owls: Habits, Habitat & Prey, readers will enjoy a wealth of science-based knowledge that will deepen classroom interest in this exciting and fascinating subject. As teachers and students move into the lab portion of this comprehensive guide, each will be equipped with in-depth information that propels our understanding of Barn Owls, their habitat, habits and prey. Before we begin our exploration together, it’s important to identify exactly which owls are most prolific and available to learn from.

Barn Owl

Which Owls Do We Explore?

The most common owl we explore for educational purposes is the Barn Owl (Tyto alba). There are two good reasons for this exclusivity. One is the availability of the subject, as the Barn Owl lives on nearly every continent (with the exception of Antarctica) and has a comparable diet across the globe. Second, unlike some of their cousins, Barn Owls have a unique method of ingest-

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ing their prey whole and regurgitating a pellet that is conveniently packaged as a tightly compacted ball of fur, bones, and other material not needed for nutrition.

Their voracious appetite is matched only by eager students wanting to learn about their diet!

Another important owl we study, mainly because of the bird’s proximity to the Barn Owl in North and South America, is the Great Horned Owl. Great Horned Owls do not lend themselves as well to our investigations due to differences in how they ingest and digest their food. That being noted, as we work with students across the world, we find a growing interest in the more challenging study of the Great Horned Owl.

Owl Basics

If you asked someone what sound an owl makes, most people would say, “Hoo!,” and that’s not necessarily incorrect. But the vocalizations various owls make distinguish them as uniquely as their appearances do. For example, a Barn Owl does not produce a “hoo,” but rather the “screech” that has been the source of many mythical stories told on dark, spooky nights.

Screech Owls, on the other hand, rarely screech but rather have a staccato-like succession of hoots. The Great Horned Owl is known distinctly for its “hoo!” and is one of the most commonly heard owls in the wild.

While the Barn Owl is present on nearly all continents, the Great Horned Owl is the most common owl of the Americas. It has feather tufts that can make it somewhat cat-like in appearance. These horns, referred to as “tufts,” easily distinguish it.

Great Horned Owls are highly adaptable birds. Their habitats range from suburban areas to forests, farmlands, and places where there is an abundance of prey. Northern subspecies can migrate in winter months but prefer moderate climates where they can live for as many as 5 to 15 years.

Barn Owls are cavity dwellers by choice, selecting tree holes, stumps, caves and abandoned structures. Sometimes they take the unoccupied nest of a Barn Owl or other large bird. There have been instances where our staff has seen a Barn Owl living in one end of a large structure and a Horned Owl at the other end. However, this is a rare occurrence because Barn Owls are frequently killed and preyed upon by Horned Owls.

For the most part, Great Horned Owls are monogamous, meaning they choose one mate for life. Both parents will incubate their eggs, which can range from one to five eggs (2-3 eggs on average). A group of eggs laid during the same period is known as a “clutch.” Great Horned Owls are fiercely protective parents and known to attack humans who they perceive to be a threat.

The Great Horned Owl is the only animal that regularly feasts on skunks!

Great Horned Owls share the digestive system common to all owls. Similarly, Horned Owls will consume their prey whole when it is a smaller animal. This is followed by the regurgitation of a pellet that includes the fur, bones, and other parts of their prey not required as nutrition. They are known to prey on a huge variety of creatures, including raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, domestic birds, falcons and other owls. Great Horned Owls regularly eat skunks, and areone of the few animals with such an appetite. They sometimes hunt for smaller game by standing or walking along the ground. These owls have even been known to prey upon wandering cats and dogs.

Because Great Horned Owls have a more diverse diet that includes small mammals and larger rodents, they often need to break up the bones of an animal in order to digest it. For this reason, it can be more difficult for the inexperienced eye to identify prey in a Great

Horned Owl pellet. Like other birds of prey, Great Horned

GREAT HORNED OWL facts...To hear a great selection of owl sounds, Owl Brand recommends visiting Owl Calls & Sounds at this website: www.owlpages/sounds

Owls are efficient nighttime hunters that strike from above and use their powerful talons to kill and carry animals several times heavier than themselves.

Great Horned Owls are largely nocturnal, so they can be difficult to spot. But in the dark after sunset, or just before dawn, they can often be heard vocalizing with their well-known series of “Hoo hoos,” and can even be seen plucking at roadkill on country roads. Unlike Barn Owls which typically weigh under a pound, Great Horned Owls can weigh up to five pounds and are considered one of the heaviest and largest of the owls in the Americas.

What Do We Learn From Great Horned Owls?

As an apex predator, Great Horned Owls have few natural enemies, but observing their habitat and hunting behavior reveals other reasons why they have such high survival rates. What natural enemies they do have are most threatening during the period when the female has eggs. Owl eggs make delicious meals for raccoons and even buzzards.

Since 1996, the Owl Brand family of projects has produced resources that are instrumental to teaching about the subject of Barn Owls, their habitat, habits, and prey. The Kidwings Explores: Barn Owls guide is the 6th edition of the original Owl Brand Kits Discovery Guide and not only gaining in valuable information but in popularity too!

Wherever your classroom, we invite you to use our resources to enrich learning and inspire students. Choose from a selection of books, videos, online guides, and more at our partner websites:

Learn About Iconic Species like Owls at Kidwings . – www.Kidwings.com

Find Science Labs at Owl Brand Discovery Kits . – www.OBDK.com

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