Nationally, it's been a strange season for Barn Owls, with average brood sizes good, but a lot of traditional sites, particularly in Kerry, apparently abandoned, or resulting in failed nesting. Sites in inland and midland sites seem later than western coastal sites, a reversal of the norm. A very chilly spring most likely accounts for the strange timings and failed nests, despite the subsequent good summer weather.
However, there has also been an encouraging uptake of new nest boxes, showing the real value in providing safe nest sites for this iconic bird.
Four Barn Owl chicks, near Castleisland (All photos: M.O'Clery, John Lusby - BirdWatch Ireland, under licence to NPWS).
One of the few broods of four this summer (above) was in a nest box near Castleisland, a site which has proven successful in each of the last three seasons it has been occupied, with three, three and, this year, four chicks.
Three young chicks were in a newly occupied nest box in this barn near Scartaglen, July 2018.
A nest box was installed in this barn (above) in 2014. With no sign of Barn Owls nearby or known of in the immediate area, the reasons for putting the box in place were based somewhat on blind optimism, though there was potentially good foraging areas nearby, and the barn was disused. Finally, in year five, the optimism was rewarded, Barn Owls moved in and three chicks were hatched. Unfortunatly only one of the three survived to fledging, but fantastic to have another nest site up and running.
Three Barn Owl chicks, near Tralee.
Where the brood size was accurately known, Kerry nest sites produced:
One chick - 1 site
Two chicks - 3 sites
Three chicks - 4 sites
Four chicks - 1 site
The average brood size from these sites was 2.55, a little above the national average (there were other sites which were successful but we can't be sure of the exact brood size). However, with several failed nests and quite a few empty traditional sites, it's not been a bumper season. Here's hoping this coming winter will be kind to the next generation of Barn Owls.
More on the Irish Raptor Blog HERE
and
the Duhallow Raptor Blog HERE
More on the Irish Raptor Blog HERE
and
the Duhallow Raptor Blog HERE
