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What happens inside a barn owl's nest? | BBC News
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What happens inside a barn owl's nest? | BBC News

Conservation Success in Northern Ireland

The Arrival of Barn Owl Chicks

  • A farmer in County Down, David Sanford, celebrates the arrival of four new barn owl chicks after a decade of conservation efforts on his land.
  • Over the last ten years, Sanford has installed nine nest boxes at his Strangford farm, some equipped with cameras to monitor the owls' progress.
  • The rough grass margins along the edges of his fields have been crucial in providing food for the barn owls, particularly mice that they catch and feed to their young.
  • Local conservation charities have supported Sanford's efforts; nearly 20 chicks have successfully fledged from his farm over six years, marking a significant achievement for such a small population.
Channel: BBC News
Video description

A farmer in Northern Ireland is celebrating the arrival of four new barn owl chicks after 10 years of conservation work on his land to increase numbers. There are currently fewer than 30 breeding pairs of barn owls in Northern Ireland. This is down to agricultural intensification, habitat loss, a lack of nest sites, and increased use of rat poisons, nature conservation charity Ulster Wildlife said. David Sandford has provided a home for nearly 20 owlets in the past six years after installing wooden nest boxes on his farm in Strangford. Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news #BarnOwls #BBCNews