Barn Owls

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