Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

Home | Geographical Scope | Historical Perspective | Format | Species Accounts | Hypothetical List | Acknowledgements | Literature Cited

TYTONIDAE

Barn Owl  Tyto alba

WINTER:  Rare Resident prior to 1980"s.  Recorded on eleven Huntington CBC's from 1948 to 1969 and 7 Ona CBC's from 1962 to 1974.  Considered Common Resident prior to 1950 (Edeburn et al. 1960).  Most recent record, 31 December 1989 to 21 January 1990 at Green Bottom WMA (WA, MG, photographed).  See Remarks section for CBC data.

SUMMER:  Considered a Rare Resident from 1950 to the early 1980's (Edeburn et al. 1960, Kiff et al. 1986). There are no confirmed summer records since the 1980's.  See Remarks section.

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Data Insufficient.

 Fall: Data Insufficient.

REMARKS:

Ohio:  Population declines were noted in Ohio from the late 1940's to 1970 (Peterjohn 2001).  Initiation of a nest box program, by the Ohio Division of Wildlife, increased nesting pairs to 40, statewide, by 1998.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on 18% of Counts.  Total Birds:  14.  Range:  1 to 2.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  NO RECORDS.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 18% of Counts.  Total Birds:    7.  Range:  1.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Number of Counts:  61.  Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:  215.7.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  NO RECORDS.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Number of Counts:  40.  Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:  259.2.