owl holes
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An owl hole is a structural entrance built into buildings (such as mills and barns) to allow predatory birds, typically
barn owl The barn owl (''Tyto alba'') is the most widely distributed species of owl in the world and one of the most widespread of all species of birds, being found almost everywhere except for the polar and desert regions, Asia north of the Himalaya ...
s (''Tyto alba''), to enter. The birds prey on farm vermin, and therefore benefit the human owner of the structure in a
symbiotic Symbiosis (from Greek , , "living together", from , , "together", and , bíōsis, "living") is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasit ...
relationship.


History

The barn owl feeds primarily on small
vertebrate Vertebrates () comprise all animal taxa within the subphylum Vertebrata () ( chordates with backbones), including all mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Vertebrates represent the overwhelming majority of the phylum Chordata, ...
s, particularly
rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...
s. Studies have shown that a barn owl may eat one or more rodents per night; a nesting pair and their young can eat more than 1,000 rodents per year and have been referred to as 'nature's mousetraps'. Locally superabundant rodent species in the weight class of several grams per individual usually make up the single largest proportion of prey. Barn Owls consume more rodents than possibly any other creature. This makes the barn owl one of the most economically valuable wildlife animals to farmers and millers. Farmers and others found these owls effective in keeping down rodent pests, and they encouraged barn owl habitation by providing nest sites.University of Florida
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In the few months between hatching and fledging, a clutch of six owlets can consume up to of rodents. With the advent of modern pesticides the perceived value of biological control has dramatically decreased to the point that few owl holes are still in active use. Many of the holes have been blocked up and landing platforms broken off.


Design

First used at the end of the 17th century, these were often positioned on the gables end of buildings owl holes were usually placed under the eaves. The perch or landing platform was made from stone or wood and usually sloped slightly downward to prevent rain water from entering the building. The entry holes are usually oblong and six to nine inches (152–228 mm)Peters, Page 16 that permits a single bird to enter with space for a safe landing and passage to the interior whilst at the same time excluding larger predators. Owl holes without landing platforms had grooves or rough surfaces beneath the hole to aid grip. On wooden buildings circular examples are sometimes found. The openings usually faced onto open ground so that they could be easily seen by barn owls seeking nesting sites. Owl holes also assisted ventilation within barns and provided for some extra illumination. File:Owl Hole - Roughwood.JPG, Owl hole at Roughwood Farm, Scotland. File:Owl Hole Lugton Ridge.JPG, Owl hole at Lugton Ridge Farm, Scotland. File:Owl hole - perch or landing platform.JPG, Perch or landing platform File:Dovecot at Roughwood.JPG, Triangular owl hole at Roughwood Farm, Scotland. Some examples found on the gable ends of wooden barns are very ornate and may be the 'signatures' of the craftsmen who built the barns, coupling this with a practical function of ventilation and as owl holes. Owl holes are sometimes found in association with dovecots as pigeons are not generally a prey species for barn owls.


Distribution

In Scotland owl holes were a common feature of old farms and mills, such as Roughwood Farm and
Dalgarven Mill The tiny village of Dalgarven in North Ayrshire, Scotland is located just north of Kilwinning on the road to Dalry. History In 1881 some two hundred people lived in the village, the mill being at its heart, with a Sunday school, smithy, join ...
. Owl holes were found in Wales, a 'triangular' example survives at
Llangattock Llangattock ( cy, Llangatwg) is a village, community and electoral ward in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Powys, Wales. It lies in the Usk Valley just across the river from the town of Crickhowell. The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal passe ...
in Glamorgan.Glamorgan Walks
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In England an example is to be found on an old pumping mill in
Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...
, old barns in Yorkshire, etc. In Germany these structures are known as ''Eulenloch'' ('owl hole'). Examples are recorded from
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
in Canada and the US.Owl Holes
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Micro-history

In
Hallstatt Hallstatt ( , , ) is a small town in the district of Gmunden, in the Austrian state of Upper Austria. Situated between the southwestern shore of Hallstätter See and the steep slopes of the Dachstein massif, the town lies in the Salzkammergut ...
at the foot of the ''Echernwand'', a trapeze-shaped opening is visible in the rock face. The hole in the cliff has been known as the ''Eulenloch'' ('owl hole').About Hallstatt
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References

;Notes ;Sources * Peters, J. E. C. (2003). ''Discovering Traditional Farm Buildings''. Princes Risborough : Shire Books. .


External sources



{{Authority control Barns House types Agricultural buildings House styles Vernacular architecture Mammal pest control