Page 7 - NT Birds of a Feather SAMPLE

Barn owl families don’t just roost in barns: you can spot them beside riverbanks
and in farmland too. However, they
are mostly active at night. They can sometimes be seen in the daylight, around dawn and dusk.
Why is the barn owl called the barn owl? Well, they became known in the UK for being seen roosting in barns. However, the barn owl also used to be known as the ‘Ghost Owl’.
It makes an eerie screeching sound, which can be terrifying to hear when you can’t
see the source of the noise in the darkness!
In other cultures, owls are much more positive symbols. The ancient Greeks linked Athena, goddess of wisdom, to an owl that became a protective symbol in battle and business. To this day, you can still spot different owls around the Temple or Athena in Athens, Greece.