News

New Arrival to the Centre

Ashley, the Black Barn Owl

On Friday 8th August 2008, a very special Black Barn Owl called Ashley arrived at the Barn Owl Centre.

History in brief. Ashley's is a male bird who hatched in May 2008, he was bred in captivity & he still retains the same latin name as the white Common Barn Owl (Tyto alba).

Come & meet him. By visiting the Centre, you will be able to learn more about him & his history plus you will be able to meet him up close.

Ashley's future here at the Centre. Ashley will be placed into a full training program so he can be specially trained to join our flying team of birds

Further updates will be added over time showing Ashley's progress as he settles in.

Description & History

Ashley is a melanistic Barn Owl. Still the same species of the Tyto Albi.
Meaning of melanistic: An increased amount of black or nearly black pigmentation of an organism, resulting from the presence of melanin. It is the opposite of albino, which occurs due to lack of melanin.

Ashley originated from a wild breeding pair of white Barn Owls, (Tyto Alba) within Europe, the story we have heard is a European white pair (wild) raised a brood of black young & from there they somehow ended up in captivity with European breeders. Over the years they have spread between breeders with them now making their way into the UK, we are learning that a few breeding pairs are in the UK & this is one of the young from one pair.

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