The barn owls the quiet hunting birds of the night <br />Seen often flying across country roads in motor car headlights <br />Brown uppers and unders a pale gray to white <br />Such beautiful birds and so graceful in flight. <br /> <br />Cosmopolitan night birds they are seen Worldwide <br />And their value to farmers cannot be denied <br />Vermin rats and mice are their principle forms of prey <br />And they rest in tree cavities during the day. <br /> <br />Their name barn owl comes from in sheds and barns where rats and mice abound <br />The 'Tyto Alba' are seen hovering around <br />Tyto Alba of course for them their Latin name <br />And barn owl and tyto alba are one and the same. <br /> <br />They nest in a hollow log or hole in a tree <br />Lay oval white eggs from seven down to three <br />Their call from once heard one could never mistake <br />A very loud screech the only sound they make. <br /> <br />The most often seen night birds and 'twould be fair to say <br />That they help the farmers in quite a big way <br />Since they keep vermin such as rodents at bay <br />And on rats and mice they are known for to prey.<br /><br />Francis Duggan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/barn-owls/
