Barn Owl

The barn owl is a truly awe-inspiring bird, as anyone lucky enough to have witnessed this silent white hunter will testify. They are mainly confined to lowland farmland, and their diet preference for small rodents has earned them the nickname ‘farmer’s friend’. Sightings, however, are few and far between, with recent estimates suggesting there may be fewer than 50 breeding pairs in Northern Ireland. This alarming statistic places the barn owl high on the priority list in terms of conservation efforts, and UWT is the lead partner in delivering action for the species.

Barn owl numbers have never been high in Northern Ireland, as our country represents the edge of its north-western range in Europe. Historically low numbers are due to our rather damp, Atlantic-influenced climate: barn owls find hunting difficult in wet weather and struggle to survive cold winters. However, there is no doubt that the population has plummeted in the last 40-50 years, leaving the species extremely vulnerable to extinction.

Three owl species are found in the wild in Northern Ireland: the barn owl, the long-eared owl, and the short-eared owl. Despite the distinctive colouration of the barn owl, it can be confused with other species, particularly if only glimpsed for a few seconds. Barn owls are rarely seen during the daytime; sightings at dusk or dawn, or in the middle of the night, are much more likely. Their underparts appear white overall, and a good view of the owl may reveal its honey-coloured upperparts. The adult call, an eerie screech, is distinctive, but even more unmistakable is the loud snoring sound the chicks make in mid-summer.

Habitat is another useful indicator. Barn owls may be seen hunting over open countryside in lowland areas, scanning fields, grassy woodland edges or marshes for small rodents and other food items. In Ireland, the barn owl's diet is thought to comprise mainly mice, pygmy shrews and small rats, but they do eat frogs and even starlings when food is scarce.

Their habit of nesting in disused farm buildings or ruins is well known, with actual nests consisting of a pile of debris (pellets containing regurgitated bones and hair from prey items, and feathers) on a convenient ledge. Less well known is their use of cavities in old trees as nest sites - generally isolated, hedgerow, or woodland-edge trees will be used, as barn owls tend to avoid dense woodland.

A barn owl Species Action Plan (SAP) for Northern Ireland was published in 2006, detailing the work required to increase the barn owl population and expand its range. UWT is the lead partner in the implementation of this plan, and a working group has been established as a framework for achieving this.

Barn owl SAP steering group minutes and documents are available to download below: