The Owlet Mall and more : Irish Owls

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner and this is a good time to talk about owls. No, owls are not green and they won't lead you to a pot of gold, but they can lead you to the country - Ireland.

There are three owl species that call Ireland their home, so we'll call them the Irish owls.

The most common species is the Long Eared Owl. The name derives from its long ear tufts on top of it's head. They raise these tufts when on alert, and lower them when relaxed. They have spotted brown and black feathers and their eyes are bright orange. They live near open grasslands in woodlands and hunt small animals. They use abandoned crow and other birds nests and lay between 3 to 5 eggs anywhere from late March to the end of August.

The Long Eared Owl is not currently considered as threatened, however, there are concerns that this may happen in the near future with the continual loss of habitats, use of pesticides, and other environmental factors.

USA, Colorado. Portrait of long-eared owl Posters by danitadelimont

Another well known owl species in Ireland is the Barn Owl. This species is the most threatened of the Irish owls. However, due to recent aggressive conservation efforts, these bird's numbers are on the rise (See posting 'Owls in the News' here).

The Barn Owl inhabits mostly farmland and low lying areas. They are well known for nesting in old barns and other man made structures, and, therefore, are closer to proximity with humans. As such, these birds are very willing to nest in boxes made especially for them.

The Barn Owl have light or tan plumage with a white underbelly. They have no ear tufts and have a round head with a heart shaped face. These birds have longer legs then other owl species.

One special characteristic of the Barn Owl is that it mates for life. The female lay 4 to 7 eggs between

April and May. They hunt not only small mammals, but other birds and even insects.

White Barn Owl Poster by WildlifeAnimals

Then there is the Short-Eared Owl. This owl species is not as common as the Long-Eared Owl. It is more widely seen in winter where they can be sighted in grasslands, marshes, and dunes. In the summer, they prefer to frequent the heather moorlands. The Short-Eared Owl resembles much like its cousin, the Long-Eared Owl, except for the smaller ear tufts.

The Short-Eared Owl breed mainly in Ireland's Sileve Bloom mountain area and nest on the ground. Unlike the other two Irish owls, this bird hunts mostly during the day. Their prey are the usual mice, small mammals, as well as the occasional birds and insects.