Barn owl chicks and an adult have been ringed in Purbeck for the first time so researchers can track their movements and judge whether nature-friendly farming is helping the species recover locally.
01Summary
- 01Fifteen barn owl chicks and one adult were ringed at nest sites across three farmland sites in Purbeck.
- 02The work is a partnership between Birds of Poole Harbour, Carey Ringing Station and the National Trust.
- 03National Trust manager Mark Singleton said barn owl numbers have fallen significantly over the past century, but there are encouraging signs of local recovery.
- 04Tenant farmers are managing land with longer grass, hedgerows and scrub to support voles and other small mammals that barn owls rely on.
- 05The project will run every year and may expand next year with more nest boxes.
02Why it matters
The ringing will show whether conservation-focused farming is helping barn owls breed and move through the area. It could also guide future habitat work and nest-box plans on farmland.
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