Barn Owl

This beautiful owl has a heart-shaped face, a creamy underside, and long robust legs. They are at the northernmost tip of their range in Delta, and stay in the area all year.

Due to cool winter temperatures, Barn Owls could not survive in the open; they have adapted to roosting in barns where they are able to keep warm. Here, they are able to nest in any month of the year.

Barn owls have an amazing sense of hearing, which they rely on more than their vision while hunting. The ear opening is actually higher on the left side of the head, enabling barn owls to pinpoint exactly where a noise is coming from.

Photo by Sofi Hindmarch

Their sharp hearing can even help them hunt in total darkness or areas with abundant ground cover. They feed mostly on small mammals which are abundant in Grassland Set-asides.

The Barn Owl is not closely related to other owl species found in the area; in fact it is the only owl in its family found in North America. Barn Owls are listed as “Species of Special Concern” under Canada’s Species at Risk Act.

How Can You Help?

Your donation will work towards conserving important farmland and wildlife resources contained in the Fraser River delta.

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