[alexis]

hello BBC podcast team

been listening to monthly episodes of this program, really enjoying it -all episodes are on my ipod - keep up the good work.

One thing that has puzzled me is that in Australia Barn Owls fly at night and in UK, england the fly during daytime, why is that?

[Fergus]

Hello Alexis

Barn owls tend to fly at dusk and at night in the UK too. This is generally the peak time of activity for their rodent prey. On some long summer evenings, I've occasionally seen barn owls flying in sunshine but this is fairly uncommon.

The owl that I most commonly see in daytime is the short-eared owl (seo). I've only seen it in winter, when it competes with the local kestrels. I've actually watched a big female kestrel steal a vole from a short-eared owl – daylight robbery in every sense.

Hope that helps.

Fergus

hello BBC podcast team

been listening to monthly episodes of this program, really enjoying it -all episodes are on my ipod - keep up the good work.

One thing that has puzzled me is that in Australia Barn Owls fly at night and in UK, england the fly during daytime, why is that?