Barn owl chicks thrive in Yorkshire

Barn owl chicks have been reared at a nesting box on a Yorkshire Water reservoir nesting box for the first time.

Declines last century are now being reversed with the species attracting dedicated support from landowners, farmers and conservationists who are keen to see the bird flourish as before.

This year has been declared a “phenomenal” success for the birds in Yorkshire, with at least 150 barn owl chicks born in the Wharfedale Valley alone - three times the previous highest figure.

Efforts have also paid off in the Yorkshire Dales, with six chicks having been reared in a nesting box that was first put in place 12 years ago at one of Yorkshire Water’s reservoirs in Scargill but had never been inhabited before.

The water company said the number of chicks across Yorkshire is now reaching record levels and it had recorded strong numbers of barn owl chicks on its land across the region.

The healthy picture is said to be largely down to the mild weather last winter which meant fewer owls perished and supplies of the animals that they hunt, such as voles, mice and shrews, thrived.

Andy Jowett, who monitors owls as a volunteer for the British Trust of Ornithology, explained: “The weather for the birds this year has been absolutely ideal and it’s helped calm some of the fears that were surrounding their numbers after such a tough time last year.

“There have actually been so many this year we haven’t had a chance to ring them all so the number in the Wharfedale Valley area alone could actually be closer to 200 which is phenomenal.”