Barn Owl Surveys
Legislation for Barn Owls
All wild birds are protected primarily through the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). This makes it an offence to:
- Intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird;
- take, damage or destroy a nest (whilst in use or under construction);
- take, damage or destroy its eggs; or
- possess wild birds (dead or alive) or their eggs.
Barn owls Tyto alba are also protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), which gives them additional protection i.e. ‘the intentional or reckless disturbance whilst nest building, at a nest containing eggs or young, or disturbing dependent juveniles’ is an offence.
Causing a barn owl to fly repeatedly from its nest, or stay away when it would otherwise be incubating eggs or brooding young, would constitute disturbance, as would blocking or drastically changing a bird’s normal access into its nest. Flushing a recently fledged, dependent young barn owl from its roost and thereby forcing it to fly in daylight, or preventing its free access to its natal site, could also constitute disturbance.
Survey Methodology
A barn owl scoping survey, comprising a daytime walkover of a site, will be undertaken to identify any built structures or mature trees which might offer potential nest or roost sites for barn owls. Potential foraging habitat for barn owls will also be noted.
The scoping survey will be undertaken from ground level or ladders and will record any evidence of barn owl including, but not limited to, live or dead owls, pellets, faeces, eggs, feathers, prey items and nest debris.
Key Survey Considerations
Barn owl scoping surveys can be undertaken throughout the year. However, assessment of trees may be best in autumn, winter or early spring when most trees are devoid of foliage and associated habitat features are most visible and accessible.
For suspected nest sites it may be necessary to avoid direct disturbance during sensitive nesting times, generally between March and May, when barn owls may be in the process of selecting their nest sites or laying eggs.
Where a potential nest site is identified, further surveys may be required to establish whether the nest is active. This may include aerial inspections, the deployment of trail cameras or activity surveys to observe barn owl flight activity.
Additional Requirements
Mitigation may include sensitive timing of works to avoid the breeding season (barn owls generally breed between February and August) or the setting of Protection Zone Distances whereby particular activities are excluded, sometimes up to 175m from an active nest site.
Providing barn owl boxes, lofts or purpose-built towers is appropriate when barn owl nest or roost sites will be lost, with birds given a minimum of 30 days to find and hopefully adapt to their new nest site.
A reduction in food availability is the principal cause of barn owl population decline and therefore habitat improvement is the most important conservation measure. If key foraging habitat is to be lost then providing alternative habitat, either through new planting or enhancing existing habitat to that of permanent rough tussocky grassland will ensure that barn owls have a consistent food supply.
Further Survey Information
The survey will be undertaken in accordance with the following publication:
- Shawyer C (2012). Barn Owl Tyto alba Survey Methodology and Techniques for Use in Ecological Assessment. Wildlife Conservation Partnership.
- Barn Owl Trust (2012). Barn Owl Conservation Handbook. Exeter. Pelagic.