Barn owl at risk

The barn owl, Tyto alba, may be familiar to many readers. It is found on every continent except Antarctica, and common throughout most of the United States. But here in Canada it is extremely rare, and has been designated an endangered species in Ontario, where it may have already been extirpated. This is disturbing news about such a beneficial species (Read natural history of this species at Animal Diversity Web).

Barn owls are known to breed in British Columbia. Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario (University of Waterloo Press, 1987) confirmed breeding activity at four sites (View the map). But according to the Canadian Wildlife Service, recent evidence suggests it is gone from the province of Ontario.⁽¹⁾

Denizen of grassland

The species was probably never numerous in Ontario. Heavy snow prevents them from catching mice and other rodents in winter. Unlike other owl species, it lacks fat deposits, and can't tolerate the harsh cold of Canadian winters. However Southern Ontario farmland provided barn owls with their chosen habitat. Before Europeans arrived here, T. alba may have populated oak savannah adjoining tallgrass prairie.

Despite its widespread range, the barn owl is declining around the world. In the United States it is listed as endangered in several states. This is most likely due to loss of farmland to urban sprawl and the elimination of barns and other old buildings where it likes to nest. The barn owl also seems more vulnerable than many other raptors to pesticides, which weaken its egg shells. They are also known to have been poisoned by pesticides used to kill rats and other farm rodents.

Natural pest control

These birds have the most acute ability of any owl to locate prey by sound. They also consume nearly twice as much prey by weight as other owls.

Because of their hunting skills, barn owls have always been friends to farmers. But modern agricultural practices, particularly corporate farms which stress high production and profit over responsible resource management, threaten this beneficial creature.

Barn owls are a valuable ally in permaculture, a practice which strives to develop agriculture as a sustainable ecosystem. According to Noah's Ark Organic Homepage:

Barn owls in favorable habitats produce large broods once or twice a year. Each young owl as it nears maturity will eat the equivalent of a dozen mice per night if such prey is available. Adult barn owls kill and consume the equivalent of one large rat
The copyright of the article Barn owl at risk in Living With Nature is owned by Van Waffle. Permission to republish Barn owl at risk in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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