Winged Guardians:
Owls and Their Role in Galapagos Conservation
Owls and Their Role in Galapagos Conservation
On quiet Galapagos nights, a winged silhouette glides silently across the sky. The barn owl (Tyto furcata punctatissima) and the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus galapagoensis) are not just hunters—they are vital guardians of the islands’ balance.
Rashid Cruz/CDF
Mara Speece/CDF
Silent Flight, Powerful Protection
The barn owl, with its sesame-speckled plumage and heart-shaped face that seems to look straight into our eyes, embodies both beauty and mystery. Endemic to the Galapagos Islands, this nocturnal hunter plays a crucial role in controlling rodent populations and protecting the archipelago’s unique biodiversity.
As night falls, barn owls emerge from volcanic crevices, lava tunnels, or high perches in the vegetation. Thanks to the special structure of their feathers, they fly in complete silence. Their heart-shaped facial disc works like a radar, amplifying even the faintest sounds of movement beneath the vegetation, while their large, forward-facing eyes give them exceptional night vision. Together, these adaptations allow them to hunt with extraordinary precision in total darkness.
Research shows that 89% of their diet consists of invasive rodents where they coexist, with large insects making up most of the rest. A single owl can capture up to 700 mice per year, while a breeding pair with chicks may hunt more than 2,000 prey. A recent study published in Animals journal estimates that, in Santa Cruz’s agricultural zone alone, 100 breeding pairs could eliminate nearly 200,000 rodents annually—providing farmers and ecosystems with a sustainable, cost-free form of pest control.
This ecological service is particularly critical for the survival of species like the mangrove finch, with fewer than 60 individuals left, and supports ecological restoration projects such as the reintroduction of 12 species to Floreana Island.
Challenges Facing the Barn Owl
Sam Rowley
Despite their importance, barn owls face serious threats:
- Road accidents, especially on the Puerto Ayora–Canal de Itabaca route.
- Secondary poisoning from rodenticides, which accumulate in their prey.
- Cultural myths and prejudice that wrongly label them as omens of bad luck or predators of chickens. In reality, birds make up less than 1% of their diet.
How to Help Protect Them
Experts recommend simple but effective measures to conserve barn owls:
- Respect speed limits on roads.
- Install nest boxes on farms.
- Reduce the use of rodenticides.
- Share scientific information to dispel harmful myths.
Fascinating Facts
- Weight: just 350–500 grams—about the same as two or three apples.
- Their long, feather-covered legs give them a distinctive look.
- Owls, in the wild, they live 4 to 10 years.
- Chicks, covered in white down, stay in the nest for 8–10 weeks before fledging.
Guardians of Balance
Today, thanks to the collaborative efforts between RWTH Aachen University, ESPOL, the Charles Darwin Foundation, the Galápagos National Park, and the local community, the barn owl has more allies than ever. Each surviving owl is both a shield against invasive rodents and a living reminder of the fragile balance that sustains the Galapagos.
“Barn owls are vital for the conservation of the pristine ecosystems of the Galapagos and also in agricultural areas, due to their control of introduced species. Despite their importance, they are affected by motor vehicles and poisoning due to lack of knowledge, which is why it is necessary to strengthen protection plans and environmental education.” — Gustavo Jiménez, Researcher, Charles Darwin Foundation
Carlos Espinosa/CDF
Protecting barn owls means protecting biodiversity, agriculture, and the extraordinary natural heritage of the Galapagos.
If you would like to learn more about owl ecology, we invite you to read this new scientific paper published in the journal Animals – Abundance, Diet, and Foraging of Galápagos Barn Owls (Tyto furcata punctatissima).
Daniela Ibarra
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
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