007 - 221 - Barn Owl Conservation project
Barn Owl Conservation project
Image details
| Access number | |
|---|---|
| Cat by | |
| Cat date | |
| Copyright | |
| File | 221 |
| File 2 | |
| File key | 7221 |
| File MB 600 | 2.1 |
| File megabytes | 1.6 |
| File resolution | 300 |
| File resolution 600 | 300 |
| File size | 20 x 29 |
| Folder | 7 |
| Home loc | |
| ID | 625 |
| Object ID | RAO/56/26 |
| Object name | printed page, black and white |
| Other number | |
| Provenance | |
| Reverse | |
| Reverse 2 | |
| Reverse key | |
| Status | In Store |
| Status by | AJA |
| Updated | 2nd September 2015 |
| Updated by | AJA |
| X date | 1992 |
| Equipment registration mark (ERM) | |
| Full name | |
| Early date | 1992 |
| Late date | 1992 |
| Transcription |
RAO / 56 / 26 Publicity In order to protect the privacy of the breeding of Barn Owls and that of the farms and landowners co - operation in the scheme , the locations of the sites are not revealed . The public however , should be made aware that such restocking schemes do exist so that sightings and Barn Owl casualties should be reported to the scheme organisers . Barn Owls found in an exhausted condition should be taken to recover in an establishment which has all the necessary facilities . Biological Control of Small Rodents Most farmers are aware that the Barn Owl is a beneficial species as it feeds on small rodents classed as pests to agriculture . Unfortunately , not all farms have suitable habitat and it is the policy of responsible restocking groups not to supply pairs in these circumstances ( unless suitable buildings can be repaired to house owls ) . There have been cases of some breeders rearing young owls and selling them for personal profit without being concerned as to the hazards of casual release . Pellet Analysis This is an essential part of the study as the analysis of the pellets is the only effective method of determining when the adults are starting to catch wild prey . Initially , food is supplied in the form of dead day old chicks which can then be gradually cut down and finally eliminated , usually when the young owls have dispersed from the release sites . In the period 1983 to 1989 inclusive , a total of 1077 Barn Owl pellets were collected from a number of different sites and analysed for content . The % of each type of prey was : Short.t Vole 42.07 Brown Rat 0.84 Bank Vole 8.09 Mole 0.12 Wood Mouse 25.15 House Mouse 0.15 Water Vole 0.06 2 Harvest Mouse 0.03 Common Shrew 21.77 Bird Rem . 0.50 Pygmy Shrew 1.22 Military Involvement Bicester Garrison has no official conservation designation but what it does have is land that is considered to be of special scientific interest . In 1989 the then Commanding Officer of 16 Battalion , Royal Army Ordnance Corps was approached by Peter Burman and Marek Nowakowsi with a view to releasing unrelated pairs of Barn Owls in and around the area . The help and support offered by the Battalion resulted in three unrelated pairs being released in the Spring of 1990. Of the three pairs released two pairs bred successfully producing 10 young in total . To continue the programme's success a need for roosting areas was identified and to meet that need six nesting boxes were made from reclaimed wood to be placed in secret areas on the Depot lands . |
