Barn owl ringing project aims to reveal whether nature-friendly farming is helping wildlife thrive
Conservationists in Purbeck have started tracking the movements and breeding success of barn owls
A new conservation project in Purbeck is tracking barn owls across farmland to discover whether wildlife-friendly farming practices are helping one of Britain’s most recognisable birds recover.
Fifteen barn owl chicks and one adult have been fitted with identification rings at nest sites across three areas as part of a joint initiative by Carey Ringing Station, Birds of Poole Harbour and the National Trust.
The work marks the beginning of an annual monitoring programme designed to build a long-term picture of the birds’ survival, breeding success, movements and mortality rates.
Crucially, researchers hope the findings will show whether conservation-focused farming is creating better conditions for barn owls and the mice, voles and shrews on which they depend.
Kate Fox, an ornithologist at Carey Ringing Station, said ringing provided scientific information that could not be obtained through observation alone.
“Barn owls are striking birds, but it's very difficult to tell individuals apart,” she said. Ringing allows researchers to identify birds that move between nest boxes and distinguish them from new arrivals.
The programme follows reports of a poor breeding season for barn owls across the UK last year. Kate Fox said chick numbers had bounced back nationally this year, with Purbeck’s birds following the same trend.
The team hopes to expand the project next year by installing and monitoring more nest boxes.
Mark Singleton, the National Trust’s countryside manager for Purbeck, said barn owl numbers had declined dramatically over the past century, although there were encouraging signs of local recovery.
Tenant farmers are creating areas of longer grass, maintaining hedgerows and encouraging patches of scrub. These habitats support the small mammals that provide the owls’ main food source.
Monitoring ringed birds over several years should help assess how effective those measures are, Mr Singleton said, allowing land management to be improved.
The birds still face significant risks, including extreme weather and road traffic collisions. They can also drown after becoming trapped in ponds or cattle troughs, as their feathers can become waterlogged.
To address the danger, the National Trust is introducing rafts across Purbeck’s cattle troughs, allowing livestock to drink while giving owls a way to escape.