Barn Owl

The monkey-like face and small, pierc-
ing, black eyes of the Barn Owl can give
it a haunting look. In fact, the eerie
look of this formidable owl, which
roosts in the dark corners of barns and
abandoned buildings, has inspired
many superstitions among farmers
and Other people who have crossed its
path. This dedicated hunter, however,
is an invaluable tenant that feeds
mostly on small rodents.
The Barn Owl was unknown in B.C.
until 1909, when the first individual
was observed near the mouth of the
Fraser River. With the conversion of
woodland to farmland, population num-
bers grew. Today, it is found mainly in agri-
cultural areas where old barns and silos are still
standing. A few birds nest on bridges in the
inner city. A vulnerable species, its population is
being affected by the use of rodenticide to con-
trol pests, the loss of habitat associated with
increasing urbanization, and car traffc.

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