Barn Owl Box

Mark-Anthony

Mark-Anthony

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Hi All

I'm thinking of building a barn owl box, to put up in the local farmers field. After reading into it, it explains that you must get permission off landowner. This I have.

just wondering though, what do you think my chances are of having a successful site for barn owls?I know there are tawnys on this site, and reports of Barnies have been sighted, although I've not seen them myself.
 
Hi Mark,
Great that you're doing that (y)

I can give you some old "stats" from a local project, but remember it will depend on a large variety of factors, from existing populations, to food availability to general landscape and people populations etc...

Anyway, in 2003 13 boxes were installed at various sites.
Of those, there was 50% occupancy
2 boxes were breeding and produced 7 chicks.


the next year, 2004
only 30% occupancy
2 of those bred with 3 chicks


2005, 6 more boxes were added (19 in total)
56% occupancy
4 breeding boxes, with a rather incredible (and dubious) 18 chicks recorded - 1 of the boxes recorded 7 chicks in it apparently!!


2006, 2 more boxes added (21 in total)
43% occupancy
0 breeding boxes


2007, 2 more boxes added (23 in total)
43% occupancy
7 breeding boxes
a rather whopping 30 chicks recorded


2008,
45% occupancy
4 breeding boxes
20 chicks recorded.


It was only a 6 year monitoring program, but I know some of those sites are still active... because thats where I go to see them :D
I guess what I'm getting at, is that they are pretty successful, so definitely stick the box up!! (y)
 
Ah that's superb. I've been on a forum called owls about that then, which has a 7 year record chart wirh a really good outcome. Obviously, people are reluctant to tell locations incase others go disturbing them just to get a few pics.

my idea is simple. Put the box up and then wait. Once the season comes when they're most active, ill get a hide and hopefully capture a few snaps without harming them in their environment :)
 
The records on that Barn Owl project also recorded kestrels (in the top half of the double-decker boxes), and one box even had a little owl take up residence.
Also, it's not uncommon for them to also have an october brood too, though it's probably a bit later for you to get the box up and have any luck this year, but I'd definitely set it up asap, it will give it a chance to weather a bit before they move in (y)

Good luck and look forward to reading your successes :)
 
Just remember, you can't go near them with a camera!
 
bossy said:
Just remember, you can't go near them with a camera!
Click to expand...

Well, that's several thousand people who visited RSPB Pulborough Brooks in deep doo-doo. After all, they had Barn Owls nesting in the visitor centre for years. I'm sure a lot of the visitors were carrying cameras, and they all went near the owls.

What you probably meant to say was - 'Just remember, you can't disturb them'.
 
hollis_f said:
Well, that's several thousand people who visited RSPB Pulborough Brooks in deep doo-doo. After all, they had Barn Owls nesting in the visitor centre for years. I'm sure a lot of the visitors were carrying cameras, and they all went near the owls.

What you probably meant to say was - 'Just remember, you can't disturb them'.
Click to expand...

Apologies, I seemed to recall, a couple of years ago I was looking to take some shots near a nesting site and being told that you needed a licence if you were within a certain (reasonably large) area of the site.
 
bossy said:
Apologies, I seemed to recall, a couple of years ago I was looking to take some shots near a nesting site and being told that you needed a licence if you were within a certain (reasonably large) area of the site.
Click to expand...

You are correct, schedule 1 birds like Barn Owls are offered protection from disturbance at or near the nest.

Edit: a licence is needed for certain activities that could cause disturbance at or near the nest.
 
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bossy said:
Thanks for clarifying.
Click to expand...

It's probably difficult to provide you are not causing a disturbance if you had to, probably best to stay clear of any nest sites where you know where they are. Away from the nest is ok but no distance is specified so again it's a grey area how far you need to be. Nature reserves are a difficult grey area too, the link I posted does cover it. It goes back to causing disturbance through your actions.
 
It is great you are thinking of providing a barn owl nest box, it may be worth contacting the RSPB or the local wildlife trust to get further advice. They may be able to assist you and provide more guidance what can and can't be done at the nest site.
 
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Thankyou everyone for the links and comments. I'll get on it right away :)
 
Ive just put two Barn owl Boxes up on my land, i had the help from hawk and owl trust my local group (worcestershire) most helpful, came out checked the site and found there's lots of evidence and sightings of barn owls and now its just a matter of waiting and monitoring...
 
chris. said:
Ive just put two Barn owl Boxes up on my land, i had the help from hawk and owl trust my local group (worcestershire) most helpful, came out checked the site and found there's lots of evidence and sightings of barn owls and now its just a matter of waiting and monitoring...
Click to expand...

That's incredible. I'd love to be able to wire a camera up in one. Hopefully you have some luck in spring :)
 
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