Habitat help for struggling barn owls (From Worcester News)

Habitat help for struggling barn owls

1:00am Wednesday 25th November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

A FALL in the number of barn owls in Worcestershire has prompted attempts to provide a better habitat for them.

Worcester Barn Owl Conservation Group noted that out of 35 breeding pairs, only 25 have produced young – much fewer than last year.

The breeding pattern of barn owls goes through peaks and troughs, mainly based on the amount of food available. Last year was a peak year, in which owls were likely to produce two broods of young.

This has been a trough year, with few rodents available for barn owls to hunt, reducing their chances of breeding.

Roy Fowler, founder of the conservation group, said: “Barn owls depend on the rodent population. When the population is down, the barn owl population is down.”

He said the female barn owl will only reproduce when there is plenty of food within the habitat.

During the breeding season the female will sit with her eggs and rely on the male to bring her food. Without a good supply female owls are at risk.

Mr Fowler said the Hawk and Owl Trust has created the Barn Owl Conservation Network to encourage future breeding and a better habitat for owls. The aim is to work closely with farmers to preserve hedges and create uncultivated margins around fields. These would form refuges for small mammals, and should attract more barn owls to nest in hedges.

The ideal is to have margins running from field to field, farm to farm, county to county, Mr Fowler said.

“As the hedges become linked the need for hand-made nest boxes should become less.”

Currently there are 38 nest boxes around Worcestershire. They are monitored throughout the year.

Mr Fowler said: “We are always looking for people to help make the boxes. Habitat has to come first, and then the boxes. It is important to place them correctly.”

Barn owls were an endangered species, and although they are now holding their own they have special protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This makes it an offence to disturb the birds intentionally when they are nesting or during the breeding season.

For more information about the group, contact Mr Fowler on 01905 22968.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)