SO COOL. THESE ENDANGERED ANIMALS WERE SPOTTED IN MADISON COUNTY. TAKE A LOOK. THE BARN OWLETS ARE WHITE IN COLOR. I MEAN, HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THEY? THAT’S HOW THEY GET THE NAME GHOST OWL. THEY’RE WHITE. THE MADISON COUNTY CONSERVATION SAYS SIX OWLETS SHOWED UP IN NESTING BOXES THAT THEY PLACED IN TWO WILDLIFE LOCATIONS. GHOST OWLS DO NOT HOOT, BUT INSTEAD THEY HISS OR SHRIEK TO COMMUNICATE. THEY PREFER TO ROOST IN OLD TREE CAVITIES, BUT EXPERTS SAY A LOT OF THEIR HABITAT IN IOWA HAS BEEN CUT DOWN TO MAKE LAND AVAILABLE FOR FARMING. PRIMARILY, HABITAT LOSS AND LOSS OF NESTING SITES, THEY HAVE BECOME ENDANGERED SO TO HAVE THESE BIRDS ON OUR PROPERTY THAT WE’RE MANAGING AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEM, YOU KNOW, BREED AND REPRODUCE OFFSPRING ON OUR PROPERTIES THAT WE MANAGE IS REALLY EXCITING. IT REALLY IS. TANNER DONOVAN INSTALLED THESE NESTING BOXES AFTER TWO YEARS AFTER RECEIVING A GRANT. HE SAYS HE WAS THRILLED TO SEE THE OWLETS SHOW UP THIS SUMMER. HE ENCOURAGES ANYBODY INTERESTED TO INSTA
Endangered 'ghost' owls spotted in Iowa
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Updated: 9:44 PM CDT Aug 29, 2024
Six endangered Barn owlets, also known as ghost owls, were recently discovered in nesting boxes in Madison County, Iowa."Primarily habitat loss and loss of nesting sites — they have become endangered," said Tanner Donovan, a natural resource specialist for Madison County who installed the nesting boxes two years ago after receiving a grant."So to have these birds on our property that we are managing and to be able to have them breed and reproduce offspring on our properties that we manage is really exciting," he said.The owlets, which are white and do not hoot but instead hiss or shriek to communicate, were found in two wildlife locations managed by Madison County Conservation.These birds prefer to roost in old tree cavities, but much of their habitat in Iowa has been cut down to make land available for farming.Donovan expressed his excitement at seeing the owlets show up this summer and encouraged anyone interested to install a box on their property to help support these endangered owls.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Six endangered Barn owlets, also known as ghost owls, were recently discovered in nesting boxes in Madison County, Iowa.
"Primarily habitat loss and loss of nesting sites — they have become endangered," said Tanner Donovan, a natural resource specialist for Madison County who installed the nesting boxes two years ago after receiving a grant.
"So to have these birds on our property that we are managing and to be able to have them breed and reproduce offspring on our properties that we manage is really exciting," he said.
The owlets, which are white and do not hoot but instead hiss or shriek to communicate, were found in two wildlife locations managed by Madison County Conservation.
These birds prefer to roost in old tree cavities, but much of their habitat in Iowa has been cut down to make land available for farming.
Donovan expressed his excitement at seeing the owlets show up this summer and encouraged anyone interested to install a box on their property to help support these endangered owls.
