EAT, DRINK, & LEARN

Speaker Series 2022-2023

Rare, Threatened, & Endangered

Thursday, January 26    

Barn Owls in Maryland: Collective Mission - Increase and support maximum nesting potential for Barn Owls in Maryland

Maryland DNR ranked Barn Owls in the 2015-2025 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (Chap 3, page 39, Table 3.12.) The Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership has included Barn Owl as target species for which to conduct research and provide conservation action statewide. The Partnership has established the Farmland Raptor Project. The conservation goals for Barn Owls in Maryland include 1) the creation and management of a statewide nest box program, 2) gain a more detailed understanding of Barn Owl ecology in Maryland and 3) make conservation recommendations and increase public awareness based on research findings. The data collected by this project will increase the profile of important areas throughout Maryland where continued conservation action will affect Barn Owl survivorship as well as a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.

Project partners include: Maryland DNR, Wildlife and Heritage Division and National Estuarine Research Reserve, Calvert County Natural Resources Division., Maryland National Park and Planning Commission, Audubon Chapters of Central and Southern Maryland, Frederick and Howard County Chapters of Maryland Ornithological Society.

My talk will focus on the evolution and taxonomy of Barn Owls world-wide, what we know about Barn Owl ecology and past and future conservation efforts in Maryland.

Andy Brown is retired from Calvert County Natural Resources Division where he worked for 34 years as a Naturalist. He has a BS in Wildlife Management from Frostburg State University and a MS in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. Andy grew up in Prince Georges County, Md where he began birding as a teenager with Prince Georges Audubon and received his bird banding license at age 16. Andy began working with Barn Owls in the Patuxent River Valley in the early 1990’s. He currently serves on the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership Farmland Raptor Committee as the Barn Owl Coordinator and is on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Bird Banding Association. He currently resides in Frederick County, Md.

Signature Drink: Bourbon

Time: 6:30-9:00 PM

Location: Irvine Nature Center

Price: $60 Members (Pacesetter Level or above) / $70 Non-Members