Four Scottish regions have successfully secured £35,000 funding to help save the barn owl. Tayside, Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Fife Local Biodiversity Partnership’s (LBAP) have received 2 years funding from Scottish Natural Heritage, via SEERAD’s Biodiversity Action Grant Scheme, to deliver a multi partnership and cross boundary barn owl project, the first of its kind in Scotland, called Barn Owls of Lowland Scotland (BOOLS).
Barn owl populations are declining from the British countryside. This is due to several factors, including roadkills, loss of habitat, poisoning owing to use of non-specific rodenticides and loss of suitable nest sites. Local Biodiversity Partnerships are charged with helping the barn owl, along with many other species considered endangered, to survive.
The LBAP regions will work with Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) and Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) to bring together all aspects of barn owl management. FWAG and SAC will target 68 farms to explain habitat requirements and encourage future work on farms to expand food and roost sites available to ‘the farmers friend’. Farmers will also receive an A3 information and action plan for the farm along with at least one barn owl nestbox, the site of which will be identified during the farm visit. Shirley Paterson of FWAG explains, “everyone loves to see barn owls. Thankfully, it is not difficult to provide ample hunting ground and nest sites for them. Simple measures, such as increasing the height of roadside hedges to avoid road kills or changing what rodenticides are used can all make a difference to owl survival. We just have to keep our fingers crossed the owls will want to the use the new nestboxes!”
The nestboxes will be made by RSPB and other local volunteers. Eighty boxes will be made which will allow multiple boxes to be erected on some farms to take into account varying male/female roost and breeding sites. The RSPB will also work with local primary schools, raising awareness of barn owl ecology and requirements, whilst making some of the boxes. A selection of these schools will visit the farm to see what has become of their nestboxes.
Farmers will be asked to keep a look out for barn owl activity or signs such as pellets and feathers. Local barn owl license holders will carry out follow up visits to monitor nestbox success. A biannual newsletter and survey postcards will be produced, the latter designed as information and a sighting feedback form for the wider public. Two farm walks will also be held, whilst Tayside LBAP will host a training event for Perth and Kinross Council. “BOOLS is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate good partnership working” says Catherine Lloyd, Tayside LBAP Co-ordinator. “The project will endeavour to amalgamate several existing, local barn owl projects into one consistent, standardised project. The project’s simplicity is its strength with each organisation delivering to their own abilities. The fact the project links the farm with the classroom through hands on experience makes it that more special”.
For further details of the project contact Julie Horsburgh, Fife LBAP Co-ordinator on 01592 414141.
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