Barn owls are one of the UK's most iconic farmland birds, dependent on rough grassland prey habitat and appropriate nesting sites, with their welfare directly linked to farmland management decisions.
Barn owl welfare depends critically on access to prey-rich rough grassland. Agricultural intensification that converts rough margins and permanent pasture to arable or improved grass removes the vole habitat barn owls depend on, causing territory abandonment and starvation. Road casualties from low hunting flight across country roads are a significant mortality source. Cold, snowy winters cause mass starvation events when prey is inaccessible. Conservation measures including rough grassland creation, nest box provision, and reduced pesticide use directly improve welfare outcomes for resident pairs.