Wildlife

Wild Little Owl Open Country Welfare

Little owls are resident birds of open farmland and orchards with their welfare shaped by invertebrate availability and nest site access.

Key Facts

Little owls were introduced to the UK in the 1800s
They hunt invertebrates in short grazed areas
Nest sites in old trees and stone walls are essential
Agricultural intensification has reduced invertebrate prey
Little owl populations declined by around 40% since the 1970s

Welfare Considerations

Little owls unable to find invertebrate prey in intensively managed grassland face food stress. Mixed farming with old trees and reduced pesticide use supports little owl welfare.

What You Can Do

Install little owl nest boxes on suitable farms
Support mixed farming and old orchard management
Reduce garden and farm pesticide use