After several days of Barn Owl ringing in part of the stronghold of the species - Kerry and NW Cork - results have been somewhat mixed. While several sites have been lost since the cold spring of 2013, where the owls have survived the clutch sizes are a little larger than average. Several broods of four chicks have been recorded, and of 11 sites in Kerry and NW Cork where clutch sizes have been accurately assessed, 30 chicks are currently close to fledging, an average of 2.72 per successful nest.
Four Barn Owl chicks from a nest box near Newmarket, Co. Cork. Five broods of four chicks have been recorded so far this season. Pictured holding the owls, Brin McDonnell of the Duhallow Birdwatching Club, and Elsa Corkery, UCC (M.O'Clery).
Laying dates are as widely separated as in any previous year. A brood of two Barn Owls has already fledged and gone from the nest site near Barraduff, Co. Kerry, while at a nest box site near Dingle, Co. Kerry, a female (pictured below) was still sitting on eggs last week. The female was aged as a first-year, so the lateness may be in part to her only now coming of breeding age.
If the eggs are hatching about now, the chicks won't be fledging until late September, so fingers crossed that the autumn weather will be relatively benign.
A female Barn Owl, Dingle, Co. Kerry. Last week she was sitting on seven eggs (M.O'Clery).
A huge Ash tree has fallen on top of this Barn Owl site in Co. Kerry though thankfully it didn't damage the nest itself. There are several very young chicks at the nest site here, just a few days old. (M.O'Clery).
Britain is enjoying one of its best breeding seasons ever. For more see the BTO page HERE
