Conservationists are celebrating the birth of a “bounty of barn owl chicks” in Northern Ireland after two pairs bred successfully in Co Fermanagh this summer.
Ulster Wildlife discovered the two nest sites during farm visits, with each pair raising five chicks. The charity described a brood of five chicks as being above the average for barn owls, indicating a good breeding year for the farmland species.
Successful breeding season
Five chicks have already fledged from one site, while the other brood are just a few weeks behind. The breeding success follows work carried out by Ulster Wildlife with landowners to install nest boxes and help create the right conditions for barn owls to thrive.
There are estimated to be fewer than 30 breeding pairs of barn owls remaining in Northern Ireland. The birds are on the red list of Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland and are protected under the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985.
Pressures on the species
Barn owls face a range of pressures locally, including habitat loss, rodenticide use and lack of food prey. The latest chicks are the first known to be ringed in Fermanagh under licence from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, with support from the British Trust for Ornithology. Ringing is done to provide information about their survival, movements and future breeding success.
Katy Bell, senior conservation officer with Ulster Wildlife, described the news as “fantastic news”.
“After such a difficult breeding season last year for barn owls, finding two successful nest sites, each with five healthy chicks, is fantastic news,” she said.
Appeal for sightings
“Barn owls remain incredibly scarce in County Fermanagh, with few reported sightings, so this is a real boost for their conservation – and a real cause for celebration.
“None of this would have been possible without the support of local farmers and landowners like Mannok Build, who reported the birds to us and are managing their land in ways that support nature.
“As a result, we are now able to protect these sites and safeguard them from disturbance, ensuring Fermanagh’s barn owls have the best chance of success.”
Ulster Wildlife has issued an appeal for sightings of barn owls in counties Fermanagh, Tyrone and Londonderry to be reported to help build information about the birds. Ms Bell added: “We believe there are more barn owls out there than our records currently show, particularly across the west of Northern Ireland.
“While there are no confirmed nest sites currently known in counties Tyrone or Derry/Londonderry, regular sightings suggest breeding birds are likely to be present.
“If you think you’ve seen or heard a barn owl, we’d love to hear from you.
“This information could help us locate important breeding areas and protect these iconic birds for the future.”
Barn owls are mostly nocturnal but can be seen hunting at dawn and dusk over fields, hedgerows or roadside verges. Sightings can be reported at ulsterwildlife.org/barn-owls or by emailing [email protected]. The charity is particularly keen to hear from farmers, landowners and anyone who regularly travels rural roads at dawn or dusk.
