Barn Owl Boxes Erected

TWiG (Tattenhall Wildlife Group) is delighted to announce that just this week 2 Barn Owl boxes have been erected locally.

These have been funded with monies kindly donated from the tea and cake stall profits which were made at the June Tattenhall Hall 'open garden' event, and, most recently, from a private donation to TWiG.

With the expertise and help of Broxton Barn Owl Group, two pole boxes are now in place.

For Barn Owls to be successful they must have a suitable feeding habitat. In the past this was often provided in a farmyard where rodents fed on spilled grain, and suitable nest sites were available in barns and outbuildings. Most recently, however, many barns have been converted to accommodation and grain spillage is a thing of the past.

Nowadays the main source of food is the short tailed field vole which lives in rough grassland. To this end, TWiG has ensured that installation has taken place at field margins, beside hedgerows, along ditches and around woodland edges – assisting in successful hunting for this majestic bird.

Broxton Barn Owl Group has installed over 300 nest boxes In West Cheshire. In a good year about 15% of the boxes are occupied by breeding Barn Owls. The boxes are excellent for roosting and shelter which is hugely important since Barn Owls have no waterproofing on the feathers. The boxes also provide habitat for kestrels, other owls etc.

Breeding Barn Owls have declined in recent years – let's hope the installation of these 2 Barn Owl boxes helps to reverse the trend. (Click on each image to enlarge)