Ghostly Owls for Halloween

Article By:Joan Bradshaw
Director of the University of Florida /IFAS Citrus County Extension

Halloween brings to mind folklore and myth about ghostly figures and creatures of the night which evoke blood-curdling shrieks. Dues to its gossamer appearance and its behavior as a nocturnal bird of prey, the barn owl has become known as the "ghost owl" or "monkey-faced owl".

For those who may not be familiar with it, barn owls have a distinctly heart-shaped, white facial disk and lack ear tufts that are characteristic of many other owl species.

Barn owls inhabit open areas, including agricultural fields, grasslands and marshes. They nest in hollow trees and in buildings where there is not much human activity. Nests typically are located on the floor of the natural tree cavity or building and consist of broken-down bits of old owl pellets. Nest sites are commonly reused by the original occupants or other pairs of owls. The availability of potential nesting sites limits Barn Owl abundance in some areas.

Barn owls are skilled hunters and use their excellent low-light night vision and hearing to locate their prey. Their facial disk funnels sound into their ear holes, which are located beneath the feathers on each side of their face. These openings are slightly lopsided from each another allowing the owl to sense how far away a sound is from them. Barn owls are so good at locating prey by sound that they can do so even when the prey is completely hidden from view. Small mammals such as voles, moles, mice and rats are the primary food of Barn Owls. Non-mammalian prey, including birds, amphibians, reptiles and large insects are occasionally consumed. Prey is usually swallowed whole, although large items are sometimes torn into smaller pieces before being eaten. Indigestible bones and fur are later regurgitated in the form of an "owl pellet."

Barn owls usually are monogamous and often remain with the same partner for several consecutive breeding seasons. Eggs are laid between February and June, depending on locality and climate. The average number of eggs produced is 4-6, but extremes of more than 10 eggs in a single nest have been observed. Eggs are laid 2 or 3 days apart and hatch in that same sequence. As a result, there is always an age difference of a few days between each chick. This ensures that at least a few of the chicks, because they are older and stronger, will always be fed if food becomes scarce. Chicks grow rapidly, achieving adult weight and feathering in 8-9 weeks. At this point they roost near the nest while learning to fly and hunt. Their parents still bring food to them for another few weeks until they become fully independent.

If you are hoping for a barn owl sighting this Halloween, keep in mind barn owls don't "hoot" but make a loud "blood-curdling" scream. They are quiet nocturnal flyers and are rarely seen in the daytime. A distinct clue to their presence is their pellets consisting of regurgitated bones and fur typically found near the base of trees. Happy Halloween!

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