The 2014 monitoring records for BOAG barn owl nest boxes are nearly all in and things are looking brighter for barn owls in Staffordshire. After a disappointing year in 2013, when only 15 breeding pairs of barn owls were found and only 24 young successfully fledged, this year has seen a considerable improvement. This year BOAG has monitored 263 nest boxes and found 27 pairs of barn owls successfully rearing over 79 chicks.
Following an appeal from Staffordshire Wildlife Trust for barn owl sightings it is likely further 4 pairs were breeding in natural nest sites.
This year the weather has been favourable for barn owls and in recent weeks several late broods have been observed. Brood sizes in Staffordshire have also been larger than usual with one breeding pair successfully rearing 7 chicks and a further three pairs successfully rearing 6 young each.
Following an appeal from Staffordshire Wildlife Trust for barn owl sightings it is likely further 4 pairs were breeding in natural nest sites.
This year the weather has been favourable for barn owls and in recent weeks several late broods have been observed. Brood sizes in Staffordshire have also been larger than usual with one breeding pair successfully rearing 7 chicks and a further three pairs successfully rearing 6 young each.