BARN owls are being given a helping home by college students.
Countryside management students at Moreton Morrell College have built and installed nesting boxes for barn owls on the college’s estate. The boxes provide a safe nesting place and have a ledge to prevent the owl chicks falling off.
Barn owl numbers have declined over recent years with the loss of their natural habitat but thanks to projects like the South Warwickshire Barn Owl Survey, numbers are slowly increasing.
The organisation’s RogerJuckes said: “Last year we had 92 pairs of barn owls in South Warwickshire and we’re hoping this will increase to 100. That’s why it’s great that the students have chosen to support the barn owls in this way. Installing barn owl boxes has a really positive impact on the numbers of barn owls as a high percentage of them use the boxes for nesting.”
As the optimal height for barn owl boxes is between four and five metres, the students collaborated with arboriculture students who have been able to practice their climbing skills to secure the boxes safely.
