Recent survey work in counties Galway and Kerry have revealed a series of new Barn Owl sites, some of which are roosts, but others active nests. There is tremendous variety here, but they all also have several things in common which make them suitable for Barn Owls. First, they are remote and undisturbed locations, usually well away from busy houses or roads. Second they all offer large, secluded cavities within, and thirdly they are all close to excellent hunting habitat, usually rough grassland but also forestry plantations and hedgerow and woodland edge.
Derelict two storey farmhouse - one of the most typical of Barn Owl sites. Discovered by survey work just yesterday, it has yet to be proven whether this is a nest site. There are fresh Barn Owl feathers and pellets within, so certainly Barn Owls are using it (All photos: Michael O'Clery, under licence from NPWS).
Another typical Barn Owl site, a derelict mansion, hidden in woodland in Co. Kerry. This was also discovered within the past few days, and there was an adult male Barn Owl present in an overhead arch (see below) and the site might also prove to be a nest site. The owners believe the owls have been present for 10-15 years.
An adult male roosting in an overhead arch at the above derelict mansion.
The only currently known tree nest in Co. Kerry was discovered by the owner a few weeks ago. There are two young inside the large cavity in the trunk, just at the top of the ladder, a cavity which descends into the trunk about 2 m (6ft).
Another two story derelict farmhouse, discovered during survey work in Galway a few weeks ago. Pellets on the ground showed that it was used as a winter roost, but there were no owls present during this summer. Hopefully they will return some day.
Although discovered last summer, a return visit this year was able to definitively prove that Barn Owls were breeding in this quarry face in Co. Kerry. At least three chicks are currently present.
Although nesting was proven in 2012 at another site in Co. Kerry - an old hotel outbuilding - there was no activity at the site last year. However, a visit again this summer proved that they have bred once more. The feathers pictured were found directly below the nest site and are the remains of a Barn Owl chick. The growing feathers emerging from the feather shaft are unique to a growing chick. It is even possible to age the bird to around 4 weeks of age at the time of its' death which, judging from the nature of the remains, was at least a month ago. It presumably fell from the nest and was predated. Although initially bad news, after talking with a local farmer, he related how he had seen two Barn Owl chicks demanding food from a parent around the nest site some two weeks earlier, so the nest site was successful after all.
