THE EUROPEAN EAGLE OWL
The
European Eagle Owl was a native of Britain until the latter
part of the 19th
Century and became extinct here largely as a result of
man’s persecution. However, in recent times reports of its
return have become more frequent, although whether thee
owls have migrated here or simply escaped from the large
population of eagle owls captive-held in the UK (added to
which several fox hunts in the UK have, controversially
following the ban on hunting with dogs, begun to use Eagle
Owls to catch foxes) - is unclear.
Eagle Owls are the largest of the owls and their sheer size
and aggressive nature makes them the most dominant bird of
prey (both nocturnal and diurnal) wherever they are found.
Very occasionally they are killed by large Eagles, but more
often it is they who prey on other Raptors.
The arrival of a new Eagle Owl in the vicinity causes panic
amongst other Birds of Prey and a general re-arrangement of
territories usually follows, as its new neighbours try to
give it a wide berth. European Eagle Owls prey mainly on
mammals – chiefly rabbits and hares – but they will also
take birds up to the size of a large Buzzard, which are
usually taken from night roosts. Large Eagle Owls have been
known to take roe deer and foxes, which they kill by
crushing their skulls with huge, powerful feet.
Lack of suitable habitat and our own reaction to them makes
it more unlikely they will ever be able to return here in
significant numbers - the jury is out as to whether indeed
they should be allowed to, until it is assessed what effect
their rumbustious behaviour may have on domestic mammal
& bird species.
The Eagle Owl nests in ground scrapes usually among rocks
in open woodland in mountain foothills up to an altitude of
4,500m. Although sedentary, this large Owl requires a
territory up to 10km in diameter.