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First record of barn owls (Tyto alba) breeding in the wild in New Zealand

  • Publication Type

    Journal

  • Publication Year

    2009

  • Author(s)

    N.H.S. Hyde; K. Matthews; M. Thompson; R. Gale

  • Journal Name

    Notornis

  • Volume, Issue

    56, 4

  • Pagination

    169-175

  • Article Type

    Paper

Keywords

1st breeding record; barn owl; diet; Kaitaia; Tyto alba


First record of barn owls (Tyto alba) breeding in the wild in New Zealand

Notornis, 56 (4), 169-175

N.H.S. Hyde; K. Matthews; M. Thompson; R. Gale (2009)

Article Type: Paper

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A pair of barn owls (Tyto alba) was found breeding in Kaitaia farmland in Apr 2008, and observations on their nesting biology and behaviour were made over a period of 24 months. Another injured young barn owl, possibly from an earlier breeding attempt, was found with the pair at the time of their discovery, and brought into captivity. The nest tree was climbed and 2 dead owlets recovered, but the pair re-nested and 3 young successfully fledged. Pellets and prey remains were collected and their diet is described through pellet analysis. This is the 1st record of wild barn owls breeding in New Zealand.