Four barn owl chicks were recently found whilst monitoring nest boxes on the Duchy of Lancaster Estate near to Burton-On-Trent. The nest boxes were installed as a £900,000 conversion was carried out on old, derelict farm buildings where barn owls were know to be nesting and rearing young for a number of years.
Work to convert the barns began in 2010 during which time Staffordshire Barn Owl Action Group was in consultation with the Land Agents, working on behalf of the Duchy, and with the developers. Four nest boxes were installed on the surrounding farmland and loft space in one of the converted barns was made available for the resident barn owls. Whilst monitoring Staffordshire Barn Owl Action Group found evidence that barn owls remained on the site but, it was not until this year when the four chicks were discovered, that the group was able to confirm that barn owls were again breeding on the Estate.
Staffordshire Barn Owl Action Group reported their findings to the Land Agents and the story has been taken up by the Duchy of Lancaster. Nathan Thompson, Chief Executive of the Duchy of Lancaster, said it is committed to both promoting the countryside and supporting the surrounding wildlife and its natural habitats including nesting areas for barn owls. The story has also featured in Burton Mail published on the 9th August.
Work to convert the barns began in 2010 during which time Staffordshire Barn Owl Action Group was in consultation with the Land Agents, working on behalf of the Duchy, and with the developers. Four nest boxes were installed on the surrounding farmland and loft space in one of the converted barns was made available for the resident barn owls. Whilst monitoring Staffordshire Barn Owl Action Group found evidence that barn owls remained on the site but, it was not until this year when the four chicks were discovered, that the group was able to confirm that barn owls were again breeding on the Estate.
Staffordshire Barn Owl Action Group reported their findings to the Land Agents and the story has been taken up by the Duchy of Lancaster. Nathan Thompson, Chief Executive of the Duchy of Lancaster, said it is committed to both promoting the countryside and supporting the surrounding wildlife and its natural habitats including nesting areas for barn owls. The story has also featured in Burton Mail published on the 9th August.