A Boost for endangered barn owls as new nest site is discovered.
Northern Ireland’s tiny barn owl population has been given a much-needed boost with the discovery of a new nest site in Co. Down.
The find brings the number of active barn owl nests in Northern Ireland up to three, which is a welcome addition to our barn owl population, estimated to be fewer than 30 to 50 breeding pairs.
Two fluffy white chicks made their first appearance this week from a nest box erected almost five years ago outside Downpatrick by conservationists from Ulster Wildlife, much to the delight of wildlife-friendly farmer David Sandford.
“About two weeks ago, I thought I heard snoring sounds coming from one of the nest boxes,” said Mr Sandford, who chairs the Nature Friendly Farming Network and has won awards for his sustainable farming work.
“This is a distinctive begging call made by hungry chicks, so you can imagine my excitement after years of occasional sightings. I contacted Ulster Wildlife immediately to take a look and was ecstatic when we found chicks.”
Conor McKinney, from Ulster Wildlife, said: “We are delighted for David whose wonderful farm is now home to a family of barn owls and pleased one of our nest boxes finally attracted some special occupants. Barn owls are in serious decline in Northern Ireland caused by a lack of nest sites and suitable foraging habitat. Luckily, this pair couldn’t have chosen a more sympathetic farm to set up home with wild bird cover, meadows and mature hedgerows – holding plentiful mice and shrews for barn owls to thrive.”
The chicks were checked and ringed under license from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to help monitor their health and survival. During the process, a ring was spotted on one of the adults as it flew from the nest, which the charity believes may have been one of the chicks it ringed over the years from a neighbouring nest site on the Ards Peninsula.
To help ensure the survival of Northern Ireland’s endangered barn owls, Ulster Wildlife has launched an urgent fundraising appeal to raise £20,000. A donation of just £10 could help improve 1m of hedgerow and £100 could help build and install a nest box.
So, if you give a hoot, donate today at:www.ulsterwildlife.org or call 028 9045 4094:
About Barn Owls – www.ulsterwildlife.org/barn-owls
The barn owl is one of Norther Ireland’s rarest and endangered birds, red-listed on the Irish Birds of Conservation Concern and protected under the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985.
It is illegal to look in barn owl nest boxes, photograph or film their nest without a special licence.
Barn owls don’t make nests. They nest in old buildings, hollow tree trunks or occasionally nest boxes.
In the last few years, Ulster Wildlife has identified four active barn owl nest sites across the province. However, in 2014 one of those was lost when weather downed a tree and then in the summer of 2018, another nest site failed due to a road traffic accident, which killed one of the adults. This latest site brings the number of nest sites up from two to three again.
Pairs will use the same location to breed every year.
· The barn owl is nocturnal and hunts mainly at dawn and dusk.
· Its preferred hunting habitat is rough, ungrazed grassland.
· It is silent in flight, but is often referred to as the ‘screech owl’ due to the ear-splitting sound it can emit.
· Its efficiency in eating small mammals, such as mice and shrews, has earned it the nickname ‘the farmer’s friend.’
