Revisit

This morning I returned to the barn that I surveyed earlier in the week. Overnight the snow had disappeared and with the help of the farmer we quickly got the box installed at the top of the barn. Lots of pellets and droppings around, so fingers crossed for early occupation.

Successful Survey

I made a visit today to meet a local farmer who was keen to have some Barn Owl boxes on his land and was delighted to find areas of rough grassland which should provide ideal habitat for owls to hunt upon. Then when looking around this barn it was soon very obvious that the birds are already here! I have arranged to return at the weekend and install some nest boxes that will hopefully be used for breeding and provide an alternative roost site when the bales are removed.

Safely into a new home

This afternoon we went out to replace one of our older boxes with a new 2013 model. Despite the old  box being completely rotten, as you can see below, I was delighted to find a superbly healthy, first year, female bird inside which was duly ringed. The new box was quickly put up and Mrs. Owl quickly settled into her new cosy home.

 

You can make out the peach flush at the top of her breast which is charcteristic of young adult birds. Despite the recent wet weather, it is so pleasing that she is managing to get out and find enough food to satisfy her needs. She will be ready to breed later in the year if she can attract a mate.

First new nestbox of the year

This is the first new nestbox that we have put up in 2013. It is situated between two established breeding sites in a field that is left as rough grassland; this should provide ideal hunting habitat for any prospecting owl.

Many birds do not make it

One of the peak months for Barn Owl mortality is October and this is due to the fact that many birds are beginning to look for their own territories and begin to hunt for themselves following dispersal from their nest sites.

 

Reports are beginning to reach me of birds that have sadly been found dead and a few examples are shown below.

 

 

 

 

 

This young female had been ringed at Betley (one of a brood of two) at the beginning of June and was recovered dead at Crewe, a distance of 8km away.

 

 

 

 

This male bird was ringed at Acton Bridge (one of a brood of three in July) and he was unfortunately discovered dead underneath the same nest box; not having managed to leave his natal site successfully.

 

 

The story of this little chap is more upsetting as he had managed to leave his farm at Little Leigh and settled in the loft space of a  barn on the neighbouring farm. He sadly became disorientated and could not find his way back out becoming trapped and dieing of starvation before being discovered by the landowner.

 

 

This well-developed male had been ringed at Wettenhall in the summer along with his three siblings. He was found dead on a golf course 6km to the north in Winsford.

These birds serve to illustrate the plight of Barn Owls trying to make their own way in the world in the immediate period post fledging. It must remembered that the brood size of Barn Owl clutches are sufficiently large enough to ensure that many birds do survive this traumatic period and can go on to join the breeding population in the following year.

Threat to Ash Trees

The threat posed to Britain's Ash trees by the  deadly Ash dieback Chalara fraxinea disease has implications for much of our native biodiversity. This includes Barn Owls which often nest and roost within the natural cavities found in the Ash.

This video helps to identify the sympyoms of this catastrophic disease:


www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1GpufLkBto&feature=plcp

Chinese Lanterns

The RSPCA advise against the use of Chinese lanterns and recommend the use of harmless alternatives instead.

What harm can be caused by a Chinese lantern?
Chinese lanterns can cause injury, suffering, and even death, through:

• ingestion,
• entanglement,
• entrapment.

Livestock (e.g. cattle) can eat or become caught in lantern debris in grazing vegetation, or eat lantern parts that have been accidentally chopped into animal feed during harvest.

If an animal eats sharp lantern parts, these can tear and puncture the throat, stomach or internal organs causing internal bleeding or, in worst cases, death.

An animal that has become trapped or entangled in a fallen lantern can suffer from injury, stress and panic as itl struggles to free itself.

A wild animal that cannot free itself may eventually die from starvation.

There is the added risk of fire caused by lanterns that fall to the ground whilst still alight - this can destroy habitats and set fire to animal housing, feed and bedding.

Evidence of the dangers of Chinese lanterns

This barn owl was found dead after becoming trapped in, or colliding with, a lantern.



Don’t be fooled into thinking that ‘biodegradable’ lanterns are safe! Bamboo can take decades to degrade and the sharp parts can cause injury to animals, plus they still pose a fire risk.