Conservationists are celebrating the birth of a bounty of barn owl chicks in Fermanagh. Two pairs of barn owls were found to have successfully bred this summer by Ulster Wildlife during farm visits in the county. Each pair raised five chicks, which is above average for barn owls and shows a good breeding year for the species. One brood has already fledged five chicks, while the other is just a few weeks behind in development.
This success comes after efforts by Ulster Wildlife to work with landowners to install nest boxes and improve conditions for barn owls. There are fewer than 30 breeding pairs of barn owls remaining in Northern Ireland, and the birds are listed as a priority species for conservation.
Barn owls face many pressures including habitat loss, use of rodenticides, and a lack of prey to feed on. The latest chicks are the first known in Fermanagh to be ringed under a license from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Support came from the British Trust for Ornithology, and the ringing helps track survival, movement, and breeding success of the birds.
Katy Bell, a senior conservation officer with Ulster Wildlife, called the news fantastic after a difficult breeding season last year, according to impartialreporter.com. She said that finding two successful nest sites with five healthy chicks each is a real boost for the conservation of barn owls in Fermanagh. Barn owls remain incredibly scarce in the county, with few sightings reported, so this is a major achievement for their future. She added that none of this would have happened without the support of local farmers and landowners, such as Mannok Build. These landowners reported the birds to Ulster Wildlife and manage their land in ways that support nature.
Ulster Wildlife is now asking for sightings of barn owls in counties Fermanagh, Tyrone, and Londonderry to be reported. Ms. Bell said that more barn owls are likely present than current records show, especially in the western part of Northern Ireland. While no confirmed nest sites are known in Tyrone or Derry/Londonderry, regular sightings suggest breeding birds may be present. She encouraged anyone who thinks they have seen or heard a barn owl to contact the organization. Barn owls are mostly active at night, but can sometimes be seen hunting at dawn or dusk over fields, hedgerows, or roadside verges. The charity is especially interested in hearing from farmers, landowners, and others who travel rural roads during these times.
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