Wildlife

UK Barn Owl Nest Box and Population Recovery

The role of nest box provision in supporting barn owl population recovery in the UK.

Key Facts

Barn Owl Trust has installed thousands of nest boxes across the UK
Barn owls readily adopt nest boxes in locations with suitable foraging habitat
Box placement including height and orientation affects adoption rates
Monitoring of nest boxes provides population data at national scale
Rough grassland management near nest boxes is essential for foraging success

Welfare Considerations

Nest box provision combined with rough grassland management represents the most effective welfare intervention for barn owls, directly increasing breeding density and survival.

What You Can Do

Install barn owl nest boxes on suitable barn buildings with rural views
Join the Barn Owl Trust nest monitoring scheme
Maintain rough grassland near owl boxes for effective prey provision