While searching for new Barn Owl nest sites in Co. Tipperary, one castle had been picked out as having potential. The owner had seen a 'white owl' recently, one that was "screeching it's head off" a few weeks ago. Surely a Barn Owl? It would need an evening to sit nearby, quietly watching to see what, if anything, would emerge from the castle at dusk.
At most sites, Barn Owls will wait until near dark before emerging from their carefully hidden nest sites. This evening was to be different.
Castle in Tipperary (All photos and video: M.O'Clery, under licence from NPWS).
Did an owl fly out of the castle at last light? Not quite. The 'rule of thumb' while watching for emerging Barn Owls at dusk is 'twenty minutes after sunset'. This can vary quite a bit though, so it is always a good idea to be in place to watch a potential owl site at, or before, sunset.
Yesterday, sunset was 21:25pm, but at 21:15pm a quick movement seen out of the corner of the eye saw a Barn Owl emerge from a slender chimney, on a small tower separate from the castle, and fly off quickly out of view.
However, within seconds, the local Rooks and Jackdaws which had been gathering in small, noisy flocks just before heading off to roost, spotted the owl and gathered en masse and, emboldened by sheer numbers, and daylight, chased and hounded the Barn Owl. In seconds the air around the owl was filled with about 150 crows, a posse of agitated Swallows and even an extremely brave Pied Wagtail, all chasing the unfortunate owl across the yard. The photo below captures the moment when the Barn Owl decided enough was enough, as it flew straight back to the chimney and down, safely away from the agitated mob.
Some of the assembled lynch mob follow the Barn Owl down toward the chimney, as the owl retreats to safety.
Close-up of the above photo.
And, with barely a pause, the Barn Owl descends back into the chimney and out of harms way.
Over the next twenty minutes, in the gathering darkness, everything calmed down, the crows gradually went to roost in nearby trees, the last Blackbirds and Robins stopped singing and, finally, the Barn Owl emerged once again. A quick shake, a look around, and off to hunt, without the slightest hassle from the neighbours.
The Barn Owl decides the coast is clear, the crows have gone to roost, and heads off into the night, unmolested.
Hit the 'four arrows' symbol to see the video full size.
There are reasons Irish Barn Owls aren't seen in daylight. Ireland doesn't have Short-tailed Field Voles and some other small mammals which are often active by day, and hunted by Barn Owls in daylight in Norfolk or south England. The other reason, as illustrated here, is that Ireland has an extremely high density of crows, and any Barn Owl out and about by day in Ireland will sooner or later, be mobbed by crows. Mobbing is an instinctive behaviour triggered by the presence of a predator. Hunting is impossible when hounded by a baying mob.
Have a look at the comparison below between the Irish and British populations of Jackdaws and Rooks.
The Atlas map for Jackdaw, 2007-11, showing relative abundance Bird Atlas maps.
Hard for any Barn Owl to be out and about in daylight in Ireland, as this owl found.
