Facts:

Barn Owl (Latin name Tyto alba alba)

The Barn Owl has a heart shaped face, buff back and wings and pure white under parts which are very distinctive to this much loved bird. Over the past fifty years, there has been a decline in numbers of this bird due to the degradation of their once prey-rich habitats. You are likely to see these birds in open countryside, along field edges, roadside verges and riverbanks and they can mainly be spotted at dusk. You may be lucky to spot them during the day and they can be seen all year round.

Barn Owls mainly eat small mammals, like voles, shrews and mice. They would normally swallow their prey whole and the indigestible parts would be regurgitated in the form of a pellet. Barn Owls screech rather than hoot. There ears are located higher than most owls, which can be found under the feathering of the inside edge of the facial disc, located next to the eyes. The facial disc acts as an amazing sound funnel, collecting & filtering sound. This allows the Owl to detect the movement of its prey with complete accuracy. Barn Owls mainly hunt by sound rather than by sight. With it's acute hearing the Barn Owl can detect the slightest movement & sound of its prey and research has found that a Barn Owl placed in total blackness would still be able to find the smallest of prey because of its excellent hearing abilities.

Population Figures:

There are approximately 40 breeding pairs in the Worcestershire area; this is great news as this is an increase from the figure of 32-34 breeding pairs for the last few years. There have also been numerous sightings and recordings of single birds.

Breeding:

Seventy Five percent of the breeding pairs (30 pairs) in the Worcestershire area have bred successfully. Of these 20 pairs, two pairs brought forth a second brood; these second broods can be attributed to early breeding and the abundance of food. The average clutch size (number of eggs laid) was six, and the average brood (chicks hatched) was three. This is very different from 25 years ago when you could record clutch sizes of 15 and 16 eggs. The change in farming methods, urbanisation and road building has resulted in this decline in numbers.

Barn Owl next boxes: There are 40 next boxes in and around Worcestershire area. Worcestershire Barn Owl Conservation Group maintain, replace and renew the nest boxes. In addition, they also monitor natural nest sites. One of the nest boxes has, again, been very popular this year - at the end of February, it was checked and found to be occupied by Tawny Owls that produced three young. Finally, a pair of Barn Owls from another nest box in the vicinity moved in after the Kestrels left and produced a second brood.

If anyone would like to construct a Barn Owl nest box then Roy Fowler can provide drawings. These are always needed and great fun making and knowing that you have helped produce a home for these rare birds.

Rescue:

Since January 2008, they have rescued four Buzzards which were in their care, three Tawny Owls, one Sparrow Hawk, one Kestrel and 5 Barn Owls (two of which sadly died). All these birds were released into the wild successfully.

For more information on how to build a bird box or if you want to know more about Worcester Barn Owl Conservation Group, contact Roy Fowler, Conservation Officer on 01905 22968 or 07891 207 469.