Barn owls in decline

Published on 11/06/2012 08:08

HISTORICALLY, barns owls were known as the ‘farmers’ friend’ due to the fact that they can consume around 1,500 rodents each year and so were a welcome addition to any farmyard.

However in recent times barn owl populations have taken a hit due to a loss of their favoured rough grassland habitat. It is now estimated that only 45-55 pairs of this wonderful bird survive in Northern Ireland, a sad loss for farmers and farmyards that once depended so heavily on the species for free rodent control.

The Ulster Wildlife Trust are lead partners in the barn owl conservation project that can help increase the population of the barn owl in Northern Ireland and farmers can play a key role in this. There are many options under NICMS that can help barn owls, such as ungrazed grass margins and species rich grassland schemes. There are also lots of easy, cheap measures to encourage barn owls onto your land, for instance you could erect nest boxes or place hay bales in quiet corners of land to encourage rodents out of hedgerows.

If you have information on barn owls that you may have on your land or for free advice please contact the Ulster Wildlife Trust on 028 44 833972 or email Barnowls@ulsterwildlifetrust.org.

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Barn owls in decline

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