Metropolitan Golf Club Barn Owls

1. Metropolitan Golf Club Barn Owls

2. Metropolitan Golf Club Barn Owls The trees to the right of the 6th Green is home to our new barn owls. The owls came from the Spierrehabilitation program. The owls were locked in for the first weeks being hand fed on a diet of two chicks a day until they were settled in. After release they were fed less often until ready to fend for themselves.

3. Barn Owls The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. The Barn Owl is a pale, long-winged, long-legged owl with a short squarish tail. Generally a medium-sized owl,. measuring about 25–50 cm in overall length, with a wingspan of some 75–110 cm .  Adult body mass is also variable, ranging from 187 to 800 g . Tail shape is a way of distinguishing the Barn Owl from true owls when seen in flight, as are the wavering motions and the open dangling feathered legs. The light face with its heart shape and the black eyes give the flying bird an odd and startling appearance, like a flat mask with oversized oblique black eyeslits, the ridge of feathers above the bill somewhat resembling a nose. Its head and upper body typically vary between a light brown and a light coloured and dark grey (especially on the forehead and back) feathers in most subspecies. Some are purer, richer brown instead, and all have fine black-and-white speckles except on the remiges and rectrices, which are light brown with darker bands. The heart-shaped face is usually bright white, but in some subspecies it is browner. The underparts (including the tarsometatarsus feathers) vary from white to reddish buff among the subspecies, and are either mostly unpatterned or bear a varying amount of tiny blackish-brown speckles. It was found that at least in the continental European populations, females with more spotting are healthier on average. This does not hold true for European males by contrast, where the spotting varies according to subspecies. The bill varies from pale horn to dark buff, corresponding to the general plumage hue. The irisis blackish brown. The toes, as the bill, vary in color; their color ranges from pinkish to dark pinkish-grey. The talons are black.. On average, within any one population males tend to be less spotted on the underside than females. The latter are also larger, as is common for owls. A strong female T. alba of a large subspecies may weigh over 550 g (19.4 oz), while males are typically about 10% lighter. Nestlings  are covered in white  down all over, but the heart-shaped facial disk is visible soon after hatching.