- News
Brief news headlines appear here, members receive full information via group meetings and newsletters.
- 2010 & we are 10 years old
Mid Cheshire barn Owl Conservation Group is 10 years old and in that time the barn owl population in Mid Cheshire has become much bigger. It couldn't have happened without lots of help from others interested parties but we beleive that we have made a major contribution this turnaround.
- 2009
It's still a difficult year to asses. Nationaly small mammal numbers are low and consequently the numbers of breeding barn owls are also low. Up to late spring it seemed that the same situation would apply in Cheshire however there are indications that breeding may have started late and that clutch sizes are often around a healthy 5. Recent inspections have also shown there to be some older owlets than expected. At the moment the best estimate is that breedings numbers may not be good, however they may not turn out to be dramatically low either. More news when we have it!
- Membership
We have reviewed and modified the types of membership we offer. An application form is available now as an Adobe Acrobat file (pdf) by following this link: Membership application
- Types of membership are:
- 1. Standard Individual Membership
- £3.00 per year per individual
- 2. Standard Family Membership
- £5.00 per year per family
- 3. Platinum Membership
Open to individuals or families to pay whatever subscription rate plus donation they consider appropriate (over and above the individual/family rates)
- 4. Membership plus Nest Box Sponsorship
Membership (as above) plus sponsorship of a barn owl box. Open to individuals or families to pay whatever subscription they consider appropriate (but a minimum overall subscription rate of £20 per year). This option will give the member two letters per year updating them on the ‘activities’ in the particular box allocated to them. For landowner confidentiality reasons it may not be possible to inform the member of the exact location of the box sponsored by them but the box allocated will be as close as reasonably possible to their home address.
5. Membership plus Nest Box (with Camera) sponsorship As above but the allocated box will be one which includes one of our cameras (hence a minimum overall subscription rate of £30 per year). Benefits are again as above with the added bonus of receiving letters and pictures/films of any activity in the box twice a year.
- 2007 was a good year
The official figures for 2007 are out (full Cheshire Barn Owl report will appear on our statistics page) showing 156 breeding pairs producing 651 young for the county.
As with all successes there is usually a down side. What we must accept as an on-going 'side affect' of the success of increasing the numbers of barn owls is an increase in the number of losses/deaths of barn owls. Road deaths (the largest 'killer' of barn owls in the country) are a particular problem. Please, if you have the opportunity, try to persuade hedgerow owners (farmers/landowners/councils etc) to leave them to grow as tall as possible, particularly alongside roadways. Not only does this provide shelter and habitat for all manner of wildlife but if forces the low-flying' barn owl up into the air as it passes over the roads. By so doing this reduces the risk of the barn owl being hit by passing traffic. A comparatively simple exercise - but a very effective one. If you should find a dead barn owl - please Contact Us to let us know. It is important that we determine the cause of death plus the bird may well be ringed, in which case we need to know.
All sightings are very important to our on-going recording of barn owl activity, so if you see or hear a barn owl please Send a sighting report to let us know
2008 is not looking very good. The number of breeding pairs is substantially down on last year, a situation that seems to be reflected nationwide.
- Barn Owls Groups of
Cheshire:
There are county & national Biodiversity Action Plans in relation to the conservation of barn owls and the barn owl groups are the ground workers for these plans. So whilst the groups cover relatively small areas their combined efforts are of national importance. There are barn owl groups in South Cheshire, Broxton (effectively West Cheshire), Wirral & Ellesmere Port, North Cheshire, North east Cheshire, east Cheshire and ourselves in Mid Cheshire (see Links).
- Official Observers:
To continue to monitor barn owls in our area we need to establish a full network of official observers who report to an area co-ordinator. This role is one of observation and does not require any action which could amount to "disturbing a barn owl" but it can be very rewarding. Apart from suitable clothing, no special equipment is required and we will give suitable instructions.
Perhaps you have heard an owl & thought it may be a barn owl? Barn owls do not "Twit twoo", the most common call is a raspy snoring sound and occasionally a strident screech. Click this text to hear a barn owl.
If you have been a member for more than a year or you are otherwise known to us and would like to be an Official Observer then please Contact Us.
- Nest Boxes Plans:
- Click here for nest box plans.
- Abandoned/Injured
Barn Owls:
Owlets that are found seemingly abandoned should be observed from a distance whilst expert advice is sought such as from Lower Moss Wood Educational Reserve & Wildlife Hospital or the RSPB. Young owls often fall from the nest and later climb back of their own accord. Barn owls which are found injured, should be placed in a dark box and kept in a warm place until veterinary advice can be sought. (Lower Moss Wood Educational Reserve & Wildlife Hospital can be contacted on 01565 755082).