Home / Environment / Barn Owls Thrive: First Breeding Success in 20 Years!
Barn Owls Thrive: First Breeding Success in 20 Years!
17 Sep
Summary
- Barn owls successfully reared four young this summer.
- Nest box installations aided the rare owl breeding.
- Habitat management increased food sources for owls.
Conservation efforts have led to a remarkable success at Kedleston Hall, near Derby, where barn owls have bred for the first time in twenty years. This summer, a protected pair of these birds successfully reared four young owlets within the parkland.
The National Trust, responsible for the habitat management, cited the installation of new nest boxes as a crucial factor. This, combined with careful management of the parkland to increase the population of small mammals, provided a sustainable food source for the owls.
Countryside manager Tom Dunne expressed excitement, noting that this is the first time a nest has fully fledged with chicks successfully raised and flown into the wider landscape. The achievement signifies a positive step forward in the conservation of this species in the region.
