I am deighted to be able to introduce you to my newest neighbours. This is thanks to Alan Ball whom I first met just over a year ago when he was ringing the Jackdaws who had hatched in the bird box on the outside of the local pumping station.
Then a few weeks ago, as I drove down the track towards Woodhall Spa, I met Alan again just as he was about to climb his ladder, which would enable him to peep inside the A-frame owl box that is attached to one of the Oak trees. I was really excited to hear that he could see a mother Owl and at least one chick.
Then on 17th August, when I was busy cleaning out flower pots at the bottom of the garden, I missed a call from Alan who had arrived prepared to ring any Barn Owls that he found. Below is the email that he sent to me in response to my request to be allowed to post his excellent photograph on this blog.
Hi Barbara,
Sorry you missed the owls last week. Yes I am happy for you to use them on your website. Some facts for you regarding Barn Owls for you - use/alter what you like.
Lincolnshire is thought to now be the best county for Barn Owls in Britain with probably around 900 pairs. This population has increased from around 200 pairs 20 years ago, mainly due to the provision of nest-boxes by conservationists. The area along the River Witham has one of the highest population densities of Barn Owls in the UK.
There are two purpose-built nestboxes near you, the 'A' frame on the tree, and the pump-station box..............both of these were erected as part of a scheme between Witham Third Internal Drainage Board and the Wildlife Conservation Partnership which I monitor annually. These boxes are provided for Barn Owls and Kestrels, but are also used by Jackdaws and Stock Doves............and occasionally Tawny Owls and Little Owls.
Barn Owls normally lay 4 to 6 eggs at two-day intervals, and the female usually starts incubating from the first egg, so the eggs hatch at two day intervals about a month later. During laying, incubation and whilst the chicks are small, the female doesn't leave the box and is totally reliant on the male bringing her food. When the chicks are around two weeks old, the female will also hunt and bring back food. The young develop very slowly and take around ten weeks to fledge. Their main food source is predominantly field voles. Vole numbers go in cycles and peak every 3 or 4 years, and crash in others; Barn Owls do well in the good vole years and often fail to breed in the poor vole years. The Barn Owls will also take wood mice and shrews, and occasionally small birds. They hunt by using sound, but also have good eyesight. Although nocturnal, are often seen out in daylight when feeding chicks or if the weather was bad during the previous night.......Barn Owls do not hunt in wet weather, as, unlike most birds, they do not have waterproof feathers. In a good vole year, Barn Owls will breed a second time, after the first brood has fledged.
Barn Owls are especially protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, and it is an offence to disturb them whilst breeding. These boxes are checked by Alan Ball under a licence granted by Natural England, and the birds are ringed on behalf of the British Trust for Ornithology (using uniquely numbered metal rings each with a return address for finders to report them) in order to study them including long-term population trends.
2009 - Pump box had breeding Barn Owls........'A' frame had Jackdaws nesting followed by Stock Doves
2010 - Pump box = Jackdaws.........................'A' had Kestrels nesting
2011 - Pump box = Jackdaws.........................'A' = Barn Owls
The 'A' frame pair this year were both first year birds.....i.e. born last year (2010). the female was un-ringed, but the male had been ringed as a chick in the East Riding, Yorkshire (77km away) - this is an unusually long distance for a Barn Owl to move.!
Hope this helps? I monitor these purely as a hobby.......it's not my day job - unfortunately! The chicks photographed were around 6 - 7 weeks old.
Regards,
Alan Ball
On Monday evening, as I returned in the dark from a meeting at the Petwood Hotel, I saw a small white wing sticking out of the owl box, which I assume may belong to one of the chicks. Sadly, I needed to get home to meet some guests and take their breakfast order so I couldn't stop to observe.