THE TAWNY OWL
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The
Tawny Owl is currently Britain’s largest & most
numerous mainland breeding owl. This prevalence is largely
due to its nocturnal habits, which have given the Tawny
some protection from persecution. Also its size, physical
dominance, varied diet and ability to adapt to changing
circumstances and exploit new habitats such as urban
parkland and even large gardens, have enabled it to sustain
larger numbers.
The Tawny Owl has also been relatively unaffected by
pesticide poisoning - indeed the only major problem it has
experienced during recent decades is the loss of some nest
sites following the spread of Dutch Elm disease and the
years when severe winter gales prevailed.
As
the legendary owl of fairy tales whose famous (though
equally mythical) “tu-whit, tu-whoo” call has become part
of our literary heritage, the Tawny has many folk names
including Hoot Owl, Brown Owl and Jenny Howlett. In fact
the “twit” or more accurately “ke-wick” is a Tawny Owl’s
contact call and the “twoo” or again more accurately
“hoo-hoo-oooo” is the male’s territorial call.
Consequently, if you hear “ke-wick hoo-hoo-oooo” it is most
likely a male answering a female.
The
Tawny Owl usually nests in hollow trees, most commonly in
deciduous and mixed woodland but it will also live on
farmland, in parks and even large gardens, provided there
are trees and prey. The Tawny’s large eyes provide
excellent night vision; hearing is exceptional and
ornithologists believe that it is also an intimate
knowledge of their surroundings which allows Tawnies to
move so easily at night in thick woodland.
As a result Tawnies enjoy an extremely varied diet which
includes rodents, birds taken from night roosts, and
invertebrates. They occupy a favourite perch, dropping onto
prey that passes by; inedible remains such as fur and bones
in the form of ‘owl pellets’ gather below these perches.
Some Tawny Owls have been known to take fish, frogs and
other amphibians by wading in the shallows.