Barn owls: Silent guardian of oil palm plantations

Borneo Post

22-06-2025

In Loving Memory of Liza, the Owl Pet of Ebor
In the 1980s, at Ebor Research – the once-vibrant R&D arm of Sime Darby Plantations – science wasn't the only marvel. Amid its quiet corridors lived a wide-eyed, feathered observer named Liza, a Spotted Wood Owl who became so much more than a pet.
Liza's journey began unexpectedly. Researcher Chuah Joo Hor found her, a fragile owlet grounded too soon in Tennamaram Estate. Moved by compassion, he carried her back to Ebor, where the Crop Protection staff, more accustomed to pest control than pet care, nurtured her with slivers of meat and steady devotion. She grew into a magnificent owl, her expressive eyes reminding someone of Liza Minnelli and so she was named.
Liza, the Pet Owl of Ebor Research (Source: Chung Gait Fee)
Liza didn't just live among people; she became part of them. She strolled through labs and corridors like a silent supervisor, perched beside desks during briefings, and startled staff with ghostly, silent landings. But her favourite playground was the vast Seafield Estate – soaring through trees, visiting quarters, sometimes gliding low over picnics or curious children.
She had never learned fear, only kindness. Her sudden appearances were misread not as greetings, but threats. One day, a complaint came: Liza had 'attacked' a child. Likely frightened by her size or suddenness, someone reacted not with understanding, but fear. An estate Auxiliary Police officer, acting on instinct or orders, shot her.
The news shattered Ebor. Research Director Brian Wood was devastated and demanded accountability. Though the officer was reprimanded, the loss couldn't be undone. Liza's absence left a stillness that no scientific rigour could fill.
Brian Wood, his Plant Protection team aka Liza's caretakers, pictured at Ebor Research after the Wood Cup football match (Source: Chung Gait Fee)
But her memory remained in stories, laughter, and the wistful 'Remember when…' She taught Ebor's people something beyond data: that compassion stretches across species, that trust given must be protected, and that even in a world of logic, there's space for wonder.
Liza's end is a reminder of how fear, when unchecked, destroys what it doesn't understand. She meant no harm; only sought connection in the only way she knew. To those who knew her, Liza was more than a mascot. She was a colleague, a companion, a symbol of gentler things. Her legacy lives in hearts and hallways, reminding us that even in science, there is space for soul.
Fly free, Liza. May the skies welcome you, and may we never forget to see the world and its creatures with kinder, wider eyes.
Owl: Wisdom from the Hundred Acre Wood
Speaking of wisdom – one cannot speak of owls without recalling another famous feathered figure: Owl from Winnie-the-Pooh. Alan Alexander Milne's Owl is a curious character – part philosopher, part academic, often self-important, occasionally verbose and charmingly prone to spelling errors.
Yet, in the gentle world of the Hundred Acre Wood, Owl serves an important role. He is seen as the elder among friends, someone who despite his quirks and comical slips carried the air of authority, a creature to be turned to when things go wrong.
Though Owl sometimes overestimates his knowledge, the truth is, Owl represents the heart of guidance and shared wisdom. Pooh and his friends rely on him, not because he knows everything, but because he is willing to try, to help and to be there. Owl reminds us that wisdom isn't always about having all the right answers. Sometimes, it's simply about listening, being present and daring to speak up when others are silent.
This literary owl with his frayed vocabulary and generous heart can teach us much today, even in a practical setting as grounded as the oil palm sector and in the plantations. Because just like Owl in the stories, the barn owl in real life has a quiet but essential role to play – not just as a bird of beauty, but as a partner in integrated pest management (IPM).
Eastern Barn Owls in Oil Palm Landscapes
In Malaysia's oil palm landscape, rat infestation is one of the serious and costly problems. Rats cause significant crop damage, especially by feeding on young oil palm shoots and fruit bunches, leading to losses that can run into millions annually. Chemical rodenticides have been the go-to solution, but they come with environmental costs. But nature, as it often does, offers an alternative. And all control measures should be integrated, synergised and work hand in hand.
The barn owl species used for biological pest control is the Eastern barn owl native to southeastern Asia and Australasia, Tyto javanica javanica . This species was previously classified as a subspecies of Tyto alba javanica , but current taxonomy recognises it as a distinct species.
Native to Southeast Asia, Tyto javanica is favoured for its effectiveness in controlling rodent populations, particularly rats. By installing nesting boxes across plantations, growers encourage these owls to settle and breed.
Peter Duckett, the planter who promoted the use of barn owls to control rats in plantation (Source: NST, 12 Oct 2013)
In Malaysia, barn owls have been used as a method of biocontrol of rodent populations in oil palm plantations since 1980s. John E. Duckett, a British planter in Malaysia, played a pioneering role in introducing barn owls to combat rat infestations in plantations. At a time when rodenticides were the norm, Duckett observed nature's balance and championed barn owls as a natural predator. He initiated trials, installed nest boxes and collaborated with researchers, leading to successful reductions in rat populations and crop losses. His work not only cut reliance on chemicals but also laid the foundation for IPM in Malaysia. Today, the silent flight of barn owls remains a living legacy of Duckett's vision and ecological foresight.
There was Graham Lenton's PhD research that confirmed that barn owls accepted artificial nest boxes, were non-territorial in hunting, and that population densities rose with more nest sites. He found that warfarin-based rat baits did not harm barn owls through secondary poisoning, and that their diet in oil palm plantations was 98% rats. However, in the early 1980s, 'second generation' anticoagulant poisons caused secondary poisoning and wiped-out barn owls in some areas. In 1985, PORIM recognised barn owls' potential in rat control and began further research under Dr. Christopher Smal.
Over the years, many oil palm estates in Malaysia and Indonesia have started embracing barn owls as part of IPM strategies. Wooden nest boxes are placed high on poles around the plantation, offering these birds a place to breed. Over time, as the owl population increases, the rat population declines naturally. Not only can it reduce reliance on chemicals, but it also restores a sense of ecological balance.
But more can and must be done to promote the use of barn owls where they are needed. With a keen sense of hearing and nearly silent flight, barn owls can catch and consume up lots of rats in a year. And like Liza or Owl, they require no reward or recognition, just a safe place to nest and a chance to do what they do best.
Feathery Phantom You Want on Your Payroll
Barn owls' ghostly white face, jet-black eyes and a screech that could startle the undead, it's no wonder this bird comes with nicknames like 'Ghost Owl,' 'Death Owl' or 'Demon Owl.' But don't be fooled by the Halloween branding.
Once feared due to old superstitions particularly in parts of rural Malaysia. In Sarawak, they've been seen as omens or, worse bushmeat. Barn owls have gone from being banished to being courted. And rightly so. These birds aren't just haunting trees for fun. They're efficient, silent and cost-effective rat terminators.
Let's talk numbers. Rats are not just a minor nuisance. They're the oil palm's Public Enemy, gnawing away at fruit bunches, young shoots and the planter's patience. Studies show that rodents can reduce oil yields by 5–10% based on the amount of mesocarp eaten and converted to loss oil losses.
While chemicals can knock rat populations down, the price is steep: soil and water contamination, secondary poisoning of non-target species, and may lead to the development of resistant pests. Not to mention the environmental and sustainability headaches that come with regular pesticide use. Enter the barn owls, with talons out and zero carbon footprint.
Barn owls are apex micro-predators with PhD. They don't mess around. Armed with satellite-precision hearing, night-vision goggles for eyes, and wings that let it fly as silently as a ghost, this bird can pick off a rat from 30 metres away in the dark while you're asleep. Here's the kicker: a
single Barn Owl can eat about 3 rats per night. Multiply that by a breeding pair with hungry owlets and you've got yourself a pest control task force on wings.
One of the owl's few demands? A place to call home. Barn owls don't build nests, they move into whatever's available, like true minimalists. Plantation managers have figured this out. The trick is to install nesting boxes, ideally one per 10 hectares or some planters may quote higher. Why 10? Because Barn owls are a bit like grumpy neighbours, territorial and not fond of overcrowding.
Once settled in, these owls are impressively loyal to their turf. They're sedentary, meaning they stay and hunt within the same grounds for years. With some care and a little help from dedicated staff to monitor their numbers, health and nestlings, you're looking at a multi-year rat management programme that runs itself.
Owls, on the other hand, don't charge overtime of newly introduced SST, never go on strike and don't require hazard pay. They work in harmony with nature, targeting pests without disrupting the broader ecosystem – unlike snakes (unpredictable), macaques (unreliable) or traps (limited reach).
Breeding Barn Owls
Breeding barn owls in plantations begins with one simple but powerful tool: the nest box in the form of wooden boxes. Positioned in quiet areas near rat-prone zones, these boxes become breeding hubs, turning your estate into a living, flying pest control system.
Once installed, owls often settle in quickly, laying clutches of 4–7 eggs. In just over a month, chicks can hatch, and within 10 weeks, they're ready to hunt. Some stay close, especially if food and nesting space are abundant, gradually building up your own self-sustaining owl population.
Breeding Barn Owl (Source: AAR)
Breeding barn owls doesn't require high-tech solutions – just some boxes, patience and basic staff training. With ongoing monitoring and a bit of care, planters can harness this elegant system of pest control while preserving the ecosystem. Why fight nature when you can work with it on silent wings? For Sabah and Sarawak, importations from elsewhere would need clearance as there are concerns about predation on local fauna.
Role of Barn Owls in IPM
Barn owls can play a significant role in IPM for oil palm, particularly in managing rodent populations, mainly rats in oil palm plantations. However, barn owls should not be seen as a standalone solution for rodent control.
While barn owls can reduce rodent pressure over time, their effectiveness is influenced by several factors, including initial rat population levels, habitat conditions and nest box availability. To maintain their impact, consistent monitoring and support are essential. Their use should be viewed as a complementary component within a broader IPM strategy.
Chemical rodenticides, such as warfarin, anticoagulant poisons, remain effective for rapid rodent population knockdown. However, inconsistent baiting, often due to budget constraints or operational challenges in plantations can lead to uncontrolled population growth, resulting in higher long-term management costs. There are also other environmental considerations as well.
Past research and field trials conducted by crop protectionist Chung Gait Fee and his team at Ebor Research provided valuable insights into the practical use of barn owls. For example: A trial in Raja Musa Estate, near Kuala Selangor, covering approximately 500 hectares, demonstrated that barn owls provided effective rodent control at a significantly lower cost compared to chemical baiting. In contrast, a similar trial in Layang Estate, an estate in Johor did not achieve the desired level of control, highlighting the importance of site-specific conditions and population thresholds. Various outcomes from field observations further underline the complexities of using barn owls:
In some estates, nest boxes were installed, but no barn owls took up residence, thus necessitating the continued use of rodenticides. In other cases, nest boxes were occupied by barn owls, yet rat damage remained high, prompting renewed baiting. These outcomes suggest that owl presence alone does not guarantee effective rodent control in all sites, and that other ecological or operational factors may be at play.
The decision to rely on barn owls, chemical baiting or a combination of both is ultimately a management choice. It is also influenced by budgets, operational resources, certification requirements, environmental sustainability goals and the organisation's mission and vision regarding biodiversity and wildlife conservation. If barn owls give effective control of rats, it will usually need 2 to 3 years to build up sufficient number in plenty food supply, no need to bait. Otherwise, rat baiting is the usual control, especially in dealing with acute infestation.
Notwithstanding, barn owls should be promoted as a valuable component of a balanced IPM strategy tailored to site-specific needs. The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) is actively involved in promoting barn owls. It has initiated the Barn Owl for Smallholders Initiative (BOSI) in collaboration with the Barn Owl Research Group (BORG) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to encourage barn owls to inhabit plantations. This initiative must be promoted and sustained.
Rebranding the Owls
Ebor's Liza and Hundred Acre Wood's Owl reminds us that animals raised among us can become companions, even colleagues and partners. They showed us that when we extend care, trust can flourish – but that trust must be protected with vigilance, understanding and knowledge. Liza's tragic end warns us about what we lose when we let fear override knowledge; while Owl teaches us a deeper lesson: wisdom isn't perfection. It is the willingness to step forward when others hesitate.
Let's stop calling the barn owls as Ghost Owls or Death Owls. They're not omens; they're guardians. From the treetops, they watch over the oil palm rows like a silent sentinel. All it asks is for a little space and a bit of understanding.
In many ways, barn owls in plantations are the embodiment of that balance: a fusion of wild instinct and human partnership. They represent a key element in a balanced IPM strategy in oil palm plantations and should be promoted, offering natural rodent control that complements chemical methods. They may not wear spectacles or offer advice on emergencies, but they serve as silent guardians of our oil palm crops, offering a partnership solution to a perennial pest problem.
So, perhaps it's time we honoured Liza not just with memory, but with action. Let every nest box placed in the fields be a tribute, not just to the barn owls that take up residence, but to every creature that, like Liza, asked for nothing but kindness and a place to fly.
And if, in the quiet hours of dawn, you see a pale-winged owl gliding low over the palms, remember Liza, remember Owl. And remember that sometimes, the smallest creatures offer us the wisest lessons if only we take the time to listen to nature, learn and kindle a partnership. And it goes that if there is a raspy screech echoing through the night, don't shudder but smile. It means your plantation is protected. And it means nature, in all her wisdom, is doing what she does best: keeping things in balance.