Warrenton resident Ben Avis is doing everything he can to help the environment. A self-proclaimed nature lover from a young age, Avis is working with the World Bird Sanctuary to help increase the population of barn owls in eastern Missouri and more specifically Warren County. "I had been at a presentation of the World Bird Sanctuary and I also saw a magazine that stirred me," he said. "I wanted to get more people involved." Avis' desire to help turned into action when he responded to an advertisement from the World Bird Sanctuary in Missouri Rural, which asked for a place to house barn owls. Jeff Meshach of the World Bird Sanctuary said Avis' property off Highway U made for ideal living conditions for the owls, which were delivered last Tuesday. "The owls will be free to come and go," Meshach said of the bird compartment Avis built in the roof of his barn. "Once they leave, if the wild isn't too kind to them, they know they can always come back. It's kind of like mom for them. Hopefully others will come back, too. "Ben (Avis) also has grazing cows and that keeps the grass down, so that's good for hunting," he added. "There's a good, surrounding habitat because if the grass is too tall or too thick, the owls won't be able to really get down to the ground to hunt. This is perfect for barn owls." Meshach said barn owls, a threatened species in Missouri, have suffered a loss of habitat. "That's the biggest reason that they're threatened," he said. "Before humans, they lived in cavities and cliffs. They're too close to extinction." Only two barn owls currently occupy the compartment, but Meshach is eventually hoping for three breeding pairs. Also known as the sweetheart owl and ghost owl from the shape of its face and silent flying style, the barn owls will live for the time-being on a steady diet of thawed mice. Avis said he wanted to be a steward for others who are interested in helping the environment. "I'll do anything I can to help keep nature healthy," he said. "The compartment took me a few weeks to build. I enjoy building stuff. I made a smaller, barn owl box that is going on a neighbor's property, as well. "I'm just fortunate enough to be retired from teaching so I can do this," he added, "so far, so good." Avis said his love of nature is something he hopes is infectious. "Ever since I could remember, (I've loved nature)," he said. "I guess it's just from living in the country. There needs to be a change of attitude about what we're all doing (with nature)." -erecord@centurytel.net