Kidwings Explores
Prey
PREY prā/ noun An animal that is hunted and killed by another for food.
B
arn Owls have a very diverse diet. This means they have a broad selection of prey available, particularly in certain seasons. Pellets collected in various seasons will produce the bones of some of the animals shown below. There are some animals, such as small rodents, that are present in the diet all year long, but other migratory animals and insects only present themselves as a prey source during certain times of the year. Many of these prey are pests to farmers, so the Barn Owl is a welcome member of most farming communities as a natural pest controller.
Prey & Reproduction Many animals reproduce according to prey availability. In temperate climate areas where farming is common, it is not unusual to see three and four clutches of Barn Owls in a given year. Our team has observed a Central California female leaving her nest to join the male in bringing food back to her nest while the same male doubletimes with another nested female with eggs. The male’s central role during nesting season is to keep the nest(s) stocked with food so that the young can quickly develop a taste for the nutritional prey they need for survival. Because prey is ample, the overall owl population will benefit as more owls survive at a young age due to their father’s ability to supply enough food.
Variety of Prey Barn Owls have a voracious appetite. During certain times of year, they have abundant prey available. Depending on the region in which they live, the owls will have a broad choice of insects, birds, rodents, and even snakes, bats and frogs. The season that offers the most variety of prey is typically spring. During spring, while other animals are nesting and producing offspring, there are higher populations of animals and insects available. Barn Owls
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