Barn owl numbers double since boxes put up on farms in Dorset
Nine chicks were recorded at four council-owned farms this summer
Dorset Council has recorded its highest number of barn owl chicks yet in its annual monitoring of barn owl boxes at council farms in Dorset.
Over the past four years, 20 barn owl boxes have been installed at a cluster of council-owned farms in North Dorset.
This summer, the presence of nine chicks were recorded at four of these farms – the highest number recorded yet.
Since the 1930s the landscape has changed significantly in the UK. And changes in farming practice, lack of food availability, and loss of natural roost and nesting sites in buildings and trees has resulted in a significant decline in barn owl numbers.
Barn owl boxes were first introduced at a sample of suitable sites in 2018 as part of the council’s efforts to increase biodiversity in its farms.
Since then, the boxes have been checked every year by volunteers under a British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) ringing and disturbance license.
Any owl found has been recorded and a specially designed ring has been put on its leg.
All information gathered is then sent directly to the BTO, helping us understand more about the owls, including their survival and the condition of the birds.
All volunteers involved in the monitoring of the boxes have been trained on how to sensitively check and handle the owls with minimum disturbance.
It is a criminal offence for anyone without a licence to disturb a barn owl whilst it is building a nest or is in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young, or to disturb a barn owl’s dependent young.
You can find more information on barn owls, including how to build your own barn owl box, on the Barn Owl Trust website: www.barnowltrust.org.uk.