Thursday 31 October 2024

2024 - a record Barn Owl nesting season

 

 

A final brood of Barn Owl chicks was ringed last week, bringing the 2024 nesting season to a close.

It has proved to be a record season for our project in many respects:

First-year female Barn Owl

- earliest start to egg laying : 15th March

- most nest attempts : 40

- highest number of chicks ringed : 108

- the most adult encounters for our BTO RAS project : 34
     [= 9 new individuals + 25 re-encounters]

- highest number of PIT tagged adults re-encountered : 21

All positive signs of a thriving local Barn Owl population.

A detailed annual report will follow in due course.

 

Monday 5 August 2024

Lucky escape for a Barn Owl

 

This Barn Owl had become trapped in a wood-burning stove, having ventured down the chimney.

 

Luckily the alert owner was able to release it unharmed.