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Barn owl chicks ringed in Purbeck to measure impact of nature-friendly farming
Overview
Fifteen barn owl chicks and one adult have been ringed across three farmland sites in Purbeck for the first time. The project, a partnership between Birds of Poole Harbour, Carey Ringing Station, and the National Trust, aims to track the birds' movements and assess the effectiveness of conservation-focused farming methods in supporting local barn owl populations.
Key points
- Fifteen barn owl chicks and one adult were ringed at nest sites across three Purbeck farmland locations.
- The initiative is a partnership involving Birds of Poole Harbour, Carey Ringing Station, and the National Trust.
- National Trust tenant farmers are managing land with longer grass, hedgerows, and scrub to support small mammals that barn owls eat.
- Monitoring the ringed birds over time will help assess and improve local conservation measures.
- The ringing was conducted under a special licence following British Trust for Ornithology guidance, as barn owls are a Schedule 1 breeding species.