|
Ohio
Natural Resources
Barn
Owls Making a Comeback in Ohio
COLUMBUS,
OH – Barn owls are making a comeback in Ohio, and more
people every year have the pleasure of witnessing these beautiful
birds,
according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The ODNR
Division
of Wildlife is seeking reports from people who have seen barn owls.
Reporting
sightings of barn owls helps ODNR Division of Wildlife
biologists estimate how many live in Ohio. This information benefits
conservation efforts by tracking where and how the owls live. If people
believe
a barn owl is living near them, they are encouraged to call the ODNR
Division
of Wildlife at 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) or email
wildinfo@dnr.state.oh.us.
This
species is easily identified by its white, heart-shaped face,
large black eyes and golden-brown and gray back. Adult barn owls
communicate
with shrieks and hissing-like calls, and the calls of young barn owls
begging
their parents for food are often heard on late summer nights. Finding
pellets
is another indication that barn owls may be living nearby. Pellets are
regurgitated bones and fur of their food.
Small
rodents living in hayfields and pastures are a barn owl’s
main food source. A pair of barn owls and their young can eat more than
1,000
rodents in a year. As their name suggests, these birds find shelter in
barns or
other dark buildings, like silos. These buildings provide a safe place
for them
to rest during the day and to raise their young.
The
ODNR Division of Wildlife has provided shelter for barn owls
since 1988 by placing nest boxes on more than 400 barns. Nest boxes
provide an
opportunity for them to nest in barns they could not otherwise enter.
This
program has successfully increased barn owl populations in Ohio. The
number of
nests has increased from 19 in 1988 to more than 100 in 2012.
Biologists
believe many nest in areas other than these boxes.
Go
to wildohio.com for more information about barn owls.
ODNR
ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our
natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at
ohiodnr.gov.
|
