Little Owl Welfare: Pastoral Farmland and Nest Site Loss

The little owl, introduced to Britain in the 19th century, has declined by 62% since 1970 and depends on pastoral farmland with hedgerow trees and old buildings for nesting.

Key Facts

UK little owl population declined from around 10,000 to under 4,000 pairs since 1970
They require old pollarded willows, hedgerow oaks and stone buildings for nest holes
Loss of pastoral mixed farmland has reduced both nest sites and invertebrate prey
Nest box schemes have shown good uptake and helped stabilise some local populations

Welfare Considerations

Little owls in degraded agricultural landscapes face the dual challenge of reduced nest site availability and reduced prey from loss of permanent pasture and hedgerow structure. Pairs that persist in poor habitat show lower productivity and higher juvenile mortality. The agricultural intensification of lowland England has removed the specific mosaic of old trees, stone structures and rough permanent pasture that little owls depend on, making welfare-positive land management a landscape-scale requirement.

What You Can Do

Support Little Owl Project nest box installation in suitable habitats
Advocate for countryside stewardship schemes that maintain old trees and rough grassland
Donate to Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust little owl population research
Create habitat features including old fence posts and stone rubble piles for little owl hunting perches