To celebrate the beginning of spring in the Gaelic calendar, ornithologist Seán Ronayne is across the schedule on RTÉ lyric fm with a new series to discuss the distinct bird songs, melodies and calls that we have today in Ireland. Listen to Sean bigging up the barn owl above...
About The Barn Owl: The distinctive sound of this silent-winged ghost-like bird is one which is ingrained in Irish superstition and is thought to be the source of old tales of the Banshee: a mythical eerie creature that was said to screech and wail, to announce an imminent death in the family.
Not so long ago Barn owls were much rarer here in Ireland, but they're making a staggering comeback as a result of a Birdwatch Ireland-led nest box installation scheme, a reduction of rodenticide use, and the arrival of two new non-native small mammals (the bank vole & greater white-toothed shrew) upon which they now feed with great success.
Listen to more from Bird Songs with Seán Ronayne here
