Barn Owls at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
A barn owl was initially spotted on April 13, 2023 by Biology Intern Phoebe Jackson and Friends Career Pathways Wetland and Invasive Species Coordinator Trevor Zook. After careful monitoring, they checked the nest box and saw the first egg a week later. By the first week of May, there were six eggs! At the end of June, the six chicks were banded and they fledged in July. Some evening visitors were able to capture great photos and videos of them as they ventured out of the box and onto the awning of the barn. This was the very first time that the barn owl box was used since its installation more than 25 years earlier!
While the owls were nesting in a very public place, we did our best to keep disturbance to a minimum. We are currently exploring ways to best protect and share the barn owls with all of you should they return to the same nest location in 2024.
While the owls were nesting in a very public place, we did our best to keep disturbance to a minimum. We are currently exploring ways to best protect and share the barn owls with all of you should they return to the same nest location in 2024.
Banding
The six owlets were banded on the morning of June 30, 2023 by Dr. Blake Mathys of the Ohio Dominican University. Each owl was carefully removed from the nest and placed into its own pillowcase for safe keeping. Each band has its own unique number that is recorded with the federal government so that if the bird is ever recaptured or found, scientists can reconstruct the movements of the individual bird. The band will also allow scientists to learn how long the individual lives. All of this data is important knowledge for learning about nesting and wintering grounds so that we can support conservation efforts of these specific areas.
In addition to banding, the team also collected some feather samples for Ohio Division of Wildlife studies exploring the genetic diversity of Ohio's owls. In the video below, you can watch as the owls are removed from the nesting box for banding. Be sure to turn up the sound for the whole experience (barn owls are nicknamed banshees for a reason! The long, harsh scream is a stark contrast to the hooting of other owls in our area!)
In addition to banding, the team also collected some feather samples for Ohio Division of Wildlife studies exploring the genetic diversity of Ohio's owls. In the video below, you can watch as the owls are removed from the nesting box for banding. Be sure to turn up the sound for the whole experience (barn owls are nicknamed banshees for a reason! The long, harsh scream is a stark contrast to the hooting of other owls in our area!)
Videos
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