Hello, chipongwe-ga!
You have not mentioned whether your barn owl was raised in captivity,
whether it was caught at a young age, or injured and rehabilitated and
became somewhat tame over the course of time. You did indicate,
however, that "previous experience suggests that it should remain in
the area." Does this mean that you have released the owl on occasion
and had it return to your cage or nesting box? Also, I am curious as
to where you live. You have described the area around your house as
full of trees with an active barn owl and eagle owl population.
However, the preferred habitat of barn owls is grassland areas with a
woodland fringe. Therefore, if your owl has escaped and has managed to
survive in the wild, it's primary food sources would be primarily
outside of dense woodland.
The biggest danger to your owl, if it has been raised or held in
captivity from a young age, is lack of experience in obtaining food in
a wild habitat, vulnerability to natural predators like the Great
Horned Owl, and harm from man-made hazards like power lines.
With that said - your barn owl may return - or, it may be living
happily in another, more suitable habitat.
==
I have provided some information below about habitat, predators and
the dangers to captive owls which are released into the wild.
Natural Habitat and Predators
------------------------------
As I mentioned previously, barn owls prefer grassy habitats with a woodland fringe.
Barn owls are "Found in open habitats, such as grasslands, deserts,
marshes, and agricultural fields."
From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Barn_Owl_dtl.html
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"Barn owls occupy a vast range of habitats from rural to urban. They
are generally found at low elevations in open habitats, such as
grasslands, deserts, marshes and agricultural fields. They require
cavities for nesting, such as hollow trees, cavities in cliffs and
riverbanks, nest boxes, caves, church steeples, barn lofts, and hay
stacks. The availability of appropriate nesting cavities often limits
use of suitable foraging habitat."
From Animal Diversity
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Tyto_alba.html
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"This subspecies of barn owl is found in North and Central America.
They are generally associated with open grassland or woodland and are
usually not found in heavily forested areas. They get their name from
a tendency to use barn lofts as nesting places but will also use
trees, foliage or even caves."
From The Big Zoo website: http://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/Barn_Owl.asp
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"Barn Owls are not woodland birds and do not hoot! They prefer an open
habitat and usually hunt by flying slowly back and forth (quartering),
about 3m (10') above the ground, looking and listening for their
prey.....Barn Owl habitat includes rough grassland (where field voles
can be numerous), field margins, hedgerows, woodland edge, stubble
fields, drainage ditches and farmyards."
"Barn Owls are not territorial as their feeding areas are too large to
defend. The hunting grounds of adjacent pairs can overlap considerably
- only a small area near the nest is defended. The hunting range of
individual owls is normally about I km (2/3 mile) in the breeding
season and 3km (2 miles) in the winter. Within their home range a pair
of Barn Owls may have one breeding site, one or two roosting sites and
perhaps a few sites which they only visit, or roost in, occasionally.
Adult Barn Owls are highly sedentary - once established, they do not
normally leave their home range. Like many people, Barn Owls are very
regular in their habits - roosting in exactly the same spot every day
and hunting repeatedly over the same areas at night. This gives them a
detailed knowledge of their area which helps to maximise their chances
of survival."
From "About the Barn Owl." http://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/ABOUT.HTM
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While Barn owls are not territorial in the traditional sence, they do
protect their personal space. According to the Big Zoo website, "Barn
owls are territorial birds. When intruded upon, a barn owl will spread
its wings and accompany this threat display with hissing. If this does
not drive off the intruder the the barn owl will fall on its back and
strike out with its feet.
From the Big Zoo website: http://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/Barn_Owl.asp
Predators
-----------
You have mentioned "Eagle owls" in your neighborhood. Eagle owls
(Bubo bubo) are a specific species which inhabit Europe, Asia, and
parts of Afica. The Great Horned Owl is also know as an "eagle owl"
(Bubo virginianus) and is found across North America. The Great Horned
owl is a known predator of barn owls.
Refer to the Hawk Talk page to read descriptions of the Eagle owl and
Great Horned owl. http://www.hawktalk.org/html/owls-page.htm
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"Barn owls are distributed basically everywhere in the United States.
However, barn owls are now considered rare in many states, and are
listed as endangered in others. While much of this decline in
population can be attributed to ** predation by great horned owls, **
loss of nesting sites due to urbanization and agriculture has also
contributed. Barn owls prefer forest near open fields, but can be
found in farmlands and towns.
From "Habitat for Hooters." http://www.naparcd.org/habitatforhooters.htm
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Q: What is the common cause of death for the Barn Owl?
A: The Great Horned Owl and other Bubonidae species prey upon the Barn
Owl. Secondly, death due to collision with fence lines, power lines,
cars, trains, and trucks cause many Barn Owl deaths. Starvation plays
a key role, especially in northern latitudes when snow covers the vole
habitat areas. Predation by ground predators including skunk, opossum,
fox and snakes are very common. Some are even shot by humans. Shooting
a Barn Owl is a violation of State and Federal Law.
From "International Barn Owl Restoration Project," by Douglas E. Trapp.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/DTrapp/barnowli.htm
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"Barn Owls are at the top of the food chain; they do not have any true
predators. Occasionally, Peregrine Flacons, Great Horned Owls and
other large birds of prey have taken Barn Owls, but this is rather
rare
From "Interactions with Other Organisms
http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/e/i/eim104/b.o.interactions.htm
The Dangers in releasing captive owls
======================================
Because captive birds are often unable to fend for themselves after
they have spent time in captivity, certain locations have prohibited
captive-release programs. Even well-meaning bird rehabilitation and
re-introduction programs can end in mortality when the birds are
released.
The danger inherent in "captive and release" programs for barn owls,
specifically, has prompted release programs to become illegal in the
UK unless one carries a license. (See "Captive barn owls." RSBP Birds.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/advice/barn_owls_law/captive.asp )
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The following excerpt from the International Barn Owl Restoration
Project highlights the mortality that often accompanies captive
release programs pertaining to barn owls in the United States.
"From experience gained during the 1980s and early 1990s at several
research sites throughout the country (U.S.), and personally in Iowa
and Central California, I've learned that captive released barn owl,
either adult or juvenile, usually die within a few days after such
release. In Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin we collectively released more
than 1000 barn owl from several release sites, and found that only
about 20 of these birds were relocated still living 3 months later ...
only one pair recorded to have bred in the wild post release. We found
most barn owl released, all of which were very healthy, most of which
were juvenile, were either killed by Great Horned Owl or by collisions
with fence lines or automobiles"
...
"Based on these facts, I must submit that rehabilitation release of
juvenile barn owl is likely to fail. Compound the stress involved with
injured rehabilitated adults owls, and the likelihood of survival
lessens. It is my opinion that only a large Hack Station erected in a
grassy area, away from forests, and providing a gradual exit design
would be anywhere near successful for juvenile barn owl. Since most
rehabilitation projects could never afford to build and maintain such
a structure, I further submit that releasing rehabilitated and/or
orphaned barn owl is nothing more than a kind gesture, with an almost
certain fatal outcome. Although it may sound cruel, rehabilitators are
probably better off rejecting barn owl for care, keeping the
rehabilitated owls for educational use, or euthanising each owl as it
arrives at their particular care center."
Q: Can areas with low Barn Owl populations be enhanced through captive
breeding efforts?
A: Not likely. Because they wander from the natal area at such great
distances, these birds are usually not helped through captive breeding
efforts. During the 1980s, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin joined
together in such an effort, and collectively produced and released
more than 1000 of these birds in these States. Only one pair was
discovered nesting, post release, in Missouri, while less than 10 were
found roosting more than a year after release near any release site.
Since all birds were marked and banded,
** it was learned that most of the released owls moved off several
hundred miles, and many met their death soon after release."
From "International Barn Owl Restoration Project," by Douglas E. Trapp.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/DTrapp/barnowli.htm
==
A last note from "Considering a Captive Barn Owl?"
"Trained Barn Owls are notoriously unreliable. Even birds which have
been flown regularly without a problem can suddenly fly off never to
be seen again. On the whole we do not recommend Barn Owls for training
and flying free, and would strongly advise anyone interested in
training and flying any bird of prey to seek advice and training from
a reputable falconer.......A captive-bred Barn Owl simply let go is
not likely to survive more than a week....Some people are tempted to
simply let their birds go: it must be stressed that (quite apart from
breaking the law) simply letting a captive-bred bird go is almost
certainly condemning it to a death by starvation - its chances of
survival are very slim indeed."
From The Barn Owl Trust. http://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/Forms/No_30.pdf
==
I do hope your barn owl comes back! There is a possibility that it is
simply off for a short jaunt and will return to you. If not, I hope it
has taken up safe residence in a spot where it has plenty of shelter
and food to enjoy!
Sincerely,
umiat
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