The Duhallow Raptor Conservation Project Report, 2012 is now available for free to download (Duhallow is the region which includes NW Cork and E Kerry). It shows the results from three key species – Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl and Kestrel, including all the fieldwork, nest box and publicity aspects to the work.
Some of the highlights are: A survey of for Barn Owls in part of the region found a site availability of 14.6 suitable buildings per 100km2, and a density of 2.6 breeding pairs of Barn Owl per 100km2 was recorded, which is higher than similar findings elsewhere in the country.
An innovative playback and acoustic survey was also employed for Long-eared Owl for the first time in Ireland. A total of 6 breeding sites and 7 active territories were confirmed, representing a minimum density of 4.3 Long-eared Owl territories per 100km2. The breeding success of Long-eared Owls was 66.6%, with an average brood size of 2.25 young per brood.
There were 22 Barn Owl nest boxes in place in Duhallow by the end of 2012, representing one of the highest densities of boxes in the country. Ten Kestrel nest boxes were installed at suitable sites which marked one of the first formal nest box schemes for this species in Ireland.
