BARN OWL Tyto alba BIRD Order Strigiformes Description 17-18 in long, about 1 lb; wingspan to 43 in. Females larger than males. White breast and white, heart-shaped face; red-brown speckled body. Range world-wide on major land areas; extends from southern Canada to southern Chile, from east to west coast, in the Western Hemisphere. Status The Illinois Department of Conservation has classified barn owls as endangered in this state due to decline food supply and the number of available nesting sites as agriculture intensifies. Although not currently listed as endangered outside of Illinois, international trade of this species is regulated by law. Recent studies have shown that decline in vole
(and to a lesser degree, mouse) populations have a great effect in reducing
both barn owl and long-eared owl populations in Illinois. These studies
conclude that providing nest sites isn't enough to secure these species'
survival here. Their hunting habitat and food supply must also be present.
Voles and mice, in turn, are often treated as agricultural pests. As agriculture
intensifies in Illinois, vole populations decline. Photo © James P. Rowan Photography |
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