Barn Owl conservation
The swoop of the barn owl is one of the British countryside’s greatest sights. But despite being one of the most widespread of birds, barn owls in Britain are on the decline.
Breeding pairs are believed to be down to just 2,000 in the UK, with the overall barn owl population falling an incredible 70% in the last 50 years.
On the decline
According to the World Owl Trust, an organisation that works tirelessly towards the conservation of barn owls, a lack of nesting sites is one of the key factors in the bird’s decline.
Modern day farming methods and changing weather patterns are also major contributors to the downturn in barn owl population. The rough grassland in which barn owls used to hunt their prey (mainly short-tailed voles), has now largely disappeared, and even successfully breeding owls are scarcely able to feed their young.
Conservation projects
The World Owl Trust (www.owls.org) encourages the conservation of barn owls – and other species – through habitat management, restoration, research, breeding programmes and education. Its dedicated Owl Centre even provides treatment and rehabilitation for owls that are sick or injured.
The Owl Centre is also home to the organisation’s conservation projects, where at-risk birds are bred until numbers are sufficiently boosted that they can be released back into the wild. Unsurprisingly, the British Barn Owl has been the subject of one such programme.
It’s not just the World Owl Trust who can help Barn Owls though – the general public can also play its part.
How you can help
Barn owls need around 120 acres of permanently rough grassland in order to survive and breed. These areas can include woodland plantations, disused quarries or any ungrazed bog land, but must be situated away from main roads – another major factor in the demise of the barn owl in Britain.
If you think you know of a suitable hunting and breeding ground for barn owls, then you can encourage them to settle by erecting a nesting box. Nesting boxes provide a substitute to natural nesting sites such as stone barns and hollowed trees. The World Owl trust web site offers advice on how to make a nesting box here.
Useful sites
www.owls.org
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