Nest boxes are one of the most effective welfare and conservation interventions for barn owls, compensating for loss of traditional nest sites in old buildings and trees.
Barn owls without nest sites cannot breed successfully and territorial adults may hold unsuitable sites year after year without reproductive success. Young owls from good quality territories disperse into landscapes with insufficient prey and nest sites, increasing mortality risk. Nest box provision directly addresses one of the two key limiting factors for barn owl populations — the other being prey availability through rough grassland management. Nest boxes consistently produce welfare benefits at low cost per breeding pair.