Barn Owl Box Schemes: Supporting Safe Nesting Welfare

Barn owl populations have declined significantly due to loss of nesting sites, and nest box schemes directly improve welfare by providing safe, secure breeding sites across agricultural landscapes.

Key Facts

UK barn owl populations declined by around 70% during the 20th century
Loss of nesting sites in old buildings, hollow trees and hay stacks has been a major driver of decline
The Barn Owl Trust estimates 4,000-6,000 breeding pairs remain in the UK
Nest boxes have become essential supplementary nesting habitat across modern agricultural landscapes
Starvation is the leading cause of barn owl death, particularly in hard winters with snow cover
Breeding success in nest boxes is often equal to or better than natural sites if boxes are correctly positioned

Welfare Considerations

Barn owl nest boxes provide direct welfare benefits by securing safe nesting locations where owls can raise young without nest site competition or disturbance. Owls nesting in unstable or inadequate sites lose clutches to predation, disturbance or structural failure - welfare losses that boxes prevent. The positioning and design of boxes also affects welfare - boxes oriented away from prevailing rain, placed at appropriate height, and located near suitable hunting habitat maximise breeding success and chick survival. Nest box monitoring, done carefully, allows welfare interventions like supplementary feeding in bad winters that prevent starvation.

What You Can Do

Install a barn owl nest box on rural property or support a local farm to do so
Contact the Barn Owl Trust for advice on box design, placement and monitoring
Reduce strimmer and mowing activity near potential nesting sites during the breeding season
Support agri-environment schemes that maintain rough grassland margins for barn owl hunting