Barn owls, A good summer and better future?

The moth-like barn Owl drifts through the old orchard trees every evening just after the sun has gone down at 9.00 pm. In the straw barn, and in the box at the bottom of Halls Farm, hungry young Barn owls are waiting to be fed. The thick, tangled grass and wild flowers in the orchard is full of voles and mice and the adult owls know this. Since early June, providing the weather is dry and still, Barn owls have hunted in the orchard every evening and early morning, hovering or sitting in the old fruit trees listening for the faint sound of their prey before diving down into the grass. The orchard is in front of the farmhouse garden and the Barn owls hunt, oblivious to the Honeywood family sitting in the garden on warm evenings.

Barn Owl hovering hunt, early morning June, Suffolk. Tyto alba

The same narrative takes place across the road at Little Haugh Farm. Barn owls hunt in the parkland around the main house. Much of the grass has been left uncut until now so the Barn owls can catch plenty of food for their young. I have been watching one of the pairs at Little Haugh in the early mornings. The male and female are quite distinctive and they tend to take it in turns to hunt.  One morning I will see the male, who prefers hunting round the trees, the next day the female hunts the more open areas.

Barn Owl with vole fly past, early morning June, Suffolk. Tyto alba

This year we know of four nests at Halls and Little Haugh Farms.  There could be another nest, as adult Barn owls have been seen feeding young in an old Oak tree for a couple of days. It is likely that a pair has nested undetected in an old tree somewhere. This compares with last year when only one pair successfully raised young.

Barns owls are very dependent on the field vole population. In late winter and early spring the females must be very well fed to be able to produce eggs.  If the vole numbers are low the owls will not breed.  In spring 2013 the vole population crashed and many Barn owls died from starvation. This year is much better, already the four broods of young owls are starting to clamber out of their nests and exercise their wings.

Barn Owl pair meet and greet in an Oak tree. July evening, Suffolk. Tyto alba

There are estimated to be 4000 pairs of breeding Barn Owls in the UK, 4 of those pairs are at Halls and Little Haugh farms. This is not by accident; around 5% of the land on these farms is not used for arable production, instead it is managed for wildlife and game birds. The obvious difference from other local farms is that field margins and grassland areas are left to grow and not mown repeatedly. This allows wild flowers and grasses to flower and produce seeds, which in turn benefits insects, mammals and birds. Mowing can control weeds, but looking tidy and giving farm workers something to do in slack times in early summer before harvest could be a factor.

Barn Owl pair, full wing stretch in the middle of an Oak tree. July evening, Suffolk. Tyto alba

Very soon the young Barn owls will leave the nests. The adults may try to breed again and will not tolerate the young owls hunting in their territory. The young owls must find their own hunting and roosting places but this is not easy and many die in their first winter. Halls and Little Haugh have areas that are good for hunting  Barn owls but lack nesting and roosting places. This summer the plan is to put up more nest boxes in these areas so that the young owls can establish their own territories and survive their first winter to breed in the spring. I will report back on this later in the year.

Barn Owl on the move at sunset in an Oak tree. July evening, Suffolk. Tyto alba

« Birds of Prey, sensitive indicators? Golden Yellow to Brown »