Support Suffolk's Barn Owls

The Suffolk Community Barn Owl Project has been a huge success.  In fact, as one of the first such schemes, it has been widely copied in other counties.  Currently however the organisers are concerned that sebacks, both natural and man made, are halting progress, and are asking the public for help.

  

Some years ago the steep decline of Barn Owls in Suffolk was recognised and some 1700 nest boxes were mounted by volunteers.  At the same time farmers and others were encouraged to manage their land so that the voles and mice on which barn owls and their young feed would thrive, and the result has been a marked increase in the numbers of these lovely birds.

Volunteer monitors from the Project inspect the boxes every year, gathering valuable scientific data about the owls and their chicks.  Unfortunately last winter’s wet weather was not good for barn owls and many adults died, leading to a low level of breeding this year.  The problem has been compounded by a spate of vandalism that has destroyed 5 nest boxes, resulting in the death or, possibly, the theft of the chicks.  This is criminal activity, since barn owls are protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Project members are asking that the public be vigilant if they live in an area that contains a nesting box. All legitimate box monitors are licenced so if you see a person looking into, or tampering with, a box you should ask to see their licence.  If they do not have one you would be right to have concerns.

  

If you see anything suspicious, or hear that barn owl chicks are for sale, you should call 101 and speak to PC Mark Bryant.  PC Bryant is Suffolk Constabulary’s dedicated officer for rural crime and wildlife, and he will look into the case.