Barn owl project
The project enables Friends of Wychwood members to become practically involved, understand more about the subject under guidance & supervision from experts and then apply this knowledge more widely for the benefit of the local environment.
The Barn Owl is one of Britain's most well-known and charismatic birds. However, in recent decades its numbers have suffered significant declines due largely to the loss of hunting habitats (rough, tussocky grassland which support thriving populations of small mammals such as the field vole, the staple diet of the barn owl) and suitable nesting sites (old barns, hollow trees, etc.). Often difficulties occur even when good feeding habitats remain because these have become isolated from suitable nest sites.
There is a limit to the range that adult Barn Owls can cover from their nest base in search of food. Unbroken expanses of cereal or intensively managed grassland are major barriers, as are busy roads which sadly claim significant annual casualties.
- In view of this situation the Friends of Wychwood have recently embarked on an ongoing project which aims to: identify potential sites where artificial nesting boxes are needed closer to suitable foraging areas;
- make landowners aware of grassland management techniques that enhance habitats as owl feeding areas;
- provide participative opportunities (including monitoring work) for a better understanding of the owl's life history and habits.
Dutch Elm disease, the felling of many hollow trees for safety reasons, and severe gales have severely reduced the number of 'natural' nesting opportunities for Barn Owls who like cavity sites. The erection, by the Friends of Wychwood, of waterproof artificial boxes near potential feeding areas should be of enormous benefit.
In situations where no suitable tree site exists, artificial nest boxes have been fixed to a pole.Tea chests, (kindly donated to the Friends of Wychwood by the Purveyors of Yorkshire Tea) have been fitted with a simple additional frontspiece, and fixed in place in the dark roof spaces of farm buildings. These make ideal indoor nesting sites in situations that would otherwise be inappropriate.
