Cross eyed Friend

With their vivid yellow eyes and cross expressions, little owls have always amused me. There are four pairs nesting near to the house and I've taken to feeding them recently. It's been a 'Fairtrade' arrangement - I get great photographs in return.

Being the smallest of our owls - they stand at just 8" tall - they are particularly vulnerable to predators. They will nest alongside barn owls and kestrels, sometimes sharing the same tree. But the formidable tawny owl can spell danger. A tawny owl usually will drive them away and can kill a little owl. Little owls tend to nest down a narrow passage to keep away from unwanted intruders. I've just finished writing about them for the Yorkshire Post read the article by clicking here.