2003 - The Year of BBG

Would you trust a BROWN OWL

The barn owl is a nocturnal predator that consumes small birds, but it prefers small mammals such as mice, voles, and shrews. Barn owls begin hunting alone one hour after sunset. As an aid for detecting movement in grassland, they have developed highly specialized low-light vision. When hunting in complete darkness, however, the owl relies on its acute hearing to capture prey. The barn owl is the the most accurate bird at locating prey by sound. Another trait that adds to its hunting success is its downy feathers, which help to muffle the sound of its movement. An owl can approach its prey virtually undetected. The barn owl attack its prey in low flights (1.5m-4.5 meters above the ground), capture the prey with its feet, and nip through the back of the skull with the bill. Then the prey is swallowed whole.