Page 4 - Natural World Spring 2018
P. 4
UK NEWS The owls declined
due to loss of hunting
Essex barn habitat and nest sites
owls bounce
back
Sustained effort by volunteers and
landowners proves to be the right
formula for success
Barn owls in Essex are returning to “We are thrilled with the numbers Russell Savory Project facts
many of their former haunts, of barn owl chicks that have been
andy rouse/2020vision thanks to a multi-partner project ringed,” said Emma Ormond, Living Chicks ringed
led by Essex Wildlife Trust. Landscapes Co-ordinator. “Thank
you to all the volunteers, landowners 2017 85
Now in its fifth year, the Essex and businesses who make the 2016 55
Barn Owl Project is run by two project such a success. With their 2015 24
Trust staff, 50 volunteers and 160 help we are starting to provide vital
landowners. The volunteers advise information that will help beloved Adults ringed
landowners, build nest boxes, and barn owls on a national scale.”
monitor their use. The landowners 2017 51
provide suitable hunting and A box at Stow Maries 2016 26
breeding sites. Businesses Aerodrome, south- 2015 11
and corporate sponsors east of Chelmsford
have also generously Boxes occupied
donated materials.
2017 40
The project launched to (from 183 boxes inspected)
help reverse the dramatic 2016 26
decline of barn owls across (from 126 boxes inspected)
the country. Five years on, 2015 16
more than 260 nest boxes (from 72 boxes inspected)
have been installed and
164 chicks have been
ringed. Boxes have also
been successfully occupied
by the likes of tawny owls,
stock doves and mallard
ducks.
scottish wildlife trust Idyllic: the UK beavers are
beaver release getting established
site at Knapdale
After the Scottish Government’s
4 NATURAL WORLD spring 2018 2016 announcement that European
beavers would be a protected
species, three new animals have
been added to the original group
released in Knapdale Forest, Argyll.
The aim is to improve the
population’s genetic diversity. Other
Wildlife Trust beaver projects in
Kent, Scotland, Devon and Wales
are also gaining support.
