The owl has landed

It is a rare sight to see an owl flying in Barbados, but photographer Rawle Culbard was fortunate to capture this owl on camera last Sunday evening at Fort George Heights, St Michael.The bird was identified by renowned historian Dr Karl Watson as the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus). He said: “This is only the second confirmed sighting of this bird in Barbados.”The bird is a resident of the large islands of the north: Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.  However, Watson said, since the short-eared owl is increasing  its population in the Greater Antilles, it is possible that these two sightings might presage a natural colonisation of Barbados by these birds.The barn owl is found in neighbouring Caribbean Islands such as St Vincent and Grenada.The idea of the reintroduction of the barn owl in Barbados by late Prime Minister Tom Adams was opposed by biologists since the deliberate introduction of non-native species might have very harmful effects on the ecosystem.Watson said: “Actually it is a good idea to have owls in the ecosystem, as they are major predators of rodents, especially rats.” (LK)