Barn Owls: Silent but Majestic

Barn owls live throughout North America, and yet few people have ever seen one in the wild. They are quiet, recluse, and almost entirely night creatures. The white face and front side are hard to miss, but they become almost invisible in the backdrop of a forest when they turn their backs. Such camouflage and silent flight makes them a bird of prey to reckon with. They have acute sight and hearing and are fully able to hunt without seeing their prey. To be such effective hunters would seem to be the life every raptor would want, only the barn's life is simple and short. Most only brood one set of chicks, but it has kept the species alive, well, and off the endangered species list. There are still some serious challenges for the barn owl and ourselves if we will protect this SILENT but MAJESTIC bird.