Largest owls in the world threaten British birds
Several pairs of eagle owls, the largest owls in the world, are now breeding in the wild in Britain, according to a new study.
But it is unlikely they will ever be considered British birds as they escaped from a large pool of birds kept in captivity.
With its prominent ear tufts, 6ft wingspan and its ability to kill birds as large as herons and animals as big as roe deer, the eagle owl is one of the most remarkable birds in Europe, nesting from Spain in the south to Russia in the north, but has always been absent from Britain.
However, in the past 15 years, several pairs of the birds have begun to nest in different parts of England, according to a review of the eagle owl's status in Britain published in the journal British Birds.
John,
ReplyDeleteDoesn't bode well, does it ? 'Do gooders' let mink loose in our area around 20 years ago and they're a menace; slaughtered around 100 of our neighbours ducklings.
I lovingly nurture all the birds in our garden, so I'll keep a watchful, 'eagle' eye.
jailhouselawyer,
ReplyDeleteThey are BIG birds. My husband and I saw one displayed at a local Country Fair - scarey!
It's where we learned that the most likely culprit for the decapitated pigeons we were finding in our garden was the 'screech owl' we hear most nights.
Much as I like owls I find the size of this one quite scary. Our natural birds are declined as it is so we don't really need anything else to help them disappear!
ReplyDeleteHANG ABOUT; THAT IS DENIS HEALY. I recognise the eyebrows.
ReplyDelete