We are fortunate to have resident Barn Owls in the back paddock who nest in owl box high up in the wood shed. An owl used to roost in the old stone shed but the roof was becoming dangerous and we needed to make it safe. We installed the box from the Barn Owl Trust in summer 2019 and the owl moved in straight away, finding a partner, nesting and raising their first owlet that year.
In 2021 we seem to have a different pair nesting in the box. With a nest box camera as well as barn camera this year we are hoping to watch the owls from eggs to fledglings.
They are large birds with a wingspan if almost 1m and are often seen at dusk flying silently over the back garden. Listen for the Barn Owls less silent screeching at night and also the more familiar twit twoo of the Tawney Owls.
Barn Owl numbers plummeted by an estimated 70% from 1930-1985 due to many factors but including modern farming practices, pesticides, barn demolitions, more extensive ploughing, grain storage etc. With the support of the Barn Owl Trust and other wildlife groups the numbers are recovering. It is thought that 80% of the owls now nest in man-made boxes.