Islanders do give a hoot about local barn owl survey
BARN owl enquiries have inundated the inbox and telephone lines at the Guernsey Biological Records Centre since La Societe’s report into the bird of prey’s decline was featured in the Guernsey Press.
‘We have been astounded and so pleased with the positive response,’ said GBRC manager Liz Sweet.
‘We’ve received lots of questions and sightings of barn owls in unusual new places.’
She said the calls from the public had fallen into three categories – reported sightings, reports of previously unknown owl boxes, and people asking for further information, especially around the purchase and installation of barn owl boxes or maintenance queries.
The centre needs to know what, where, when and who, when people report potential barn owl sightings.
‘What – how many barn owls, and what they were doing, where – the location, ideally with a what3words reference, when – date and time you saw the barn owls, and finally who – who saw them?’ Ms Sweet said.
Julie Davis, who authored the barn owl report, said they were keen to hear from people who have barn owl boxes, whether owls are resident or not.
‘We particularly want to hear from people who have a box which has been occupied in the last five years who haven’t already contacted the survey.’
New barn owl boxes can be purchased locally from Grow Ltd, which is building them to the Barn Owl Trust specifications. A box costs approximately £100, but there may be an additional cost for putting them up and GBRC recommends asking a tree surgeon for a quote. Islanders can build their own box and the Barn Owl Trust has plans available on their its website, along with advice on appropriate locations.
‘As barn owls are currently breeding now, all barn owl box maintenance should wait until the autumn when the breeding season is over,’ said Ms Davis.
‘Please remember it is an offence to disturb nesting birds.
‘Sometimes other species will set up home in a barn owl box, including kestrels and stock doves. If a box has not been used for a while this may be because it needed to be repaired, or cleaned. We hope to undertake a maintenance project over the winter months, with known breeding sites being prioritised.’
Report sightings to either gsybiorecords@gmail.com or via direct message on social media. For further information on boxes contact barnowlsurvey2020@gmail.com, For new owl boxes please contact Grow Ltd www.grow.gg/
Plans for making a nest box can be found at www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/barn-owl-nestboxes/
