Nest box camera reveals secret life of barn owls on Dorset farm
Fluffy owlets should soon be seen hatching from a clutch of four eggs.
Last updated 2nd May 2021
A new conservation project across Dorset and Hampshire is giving an insight into the lives of barn owls.
Nest-cam footage is being live-streamed to encourage farmers and communities to help protect the birds.
Viewers can see inside a nest box on a farm in Dorset, which has been occupied by a pair of owls.
Owl Box Live is being run by the Fordingbridge-based charity Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.
As part of the project, 64 barn owl boxes are being installed to monitor the birds during the breeding season and adults will also be GPS-tracked.
Project leader Dr Niamh McHugh, said: "Although barn owl populations in the UK have stabilised after declining in the twentieth century, as a top predator, the barn owl provides an indication of ecosystem health, and conservation measures for owls also benefit wider farmland biodiversity.
"It is fantastic to be able to watch this pair of owls going about their lives and preparing to rear chicks.
"We hope that seeing these wonderful, often elusive birds up close will inspire people to recognise the essential work that many farmers do for wildlife and encourage farmers to continue to make further positive changes."