Rushcliffe Barn Owl Project

The Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers Annual Report for 1999 shows a very meagre eight breeding pairs of Barn Owls in the County.

Last year, over 500 young Barn Owls were raised in the boxes of our Barn Owl Projects and ringing groups from in excess of over 100 pairs.

These increases in Barn Owl numbers are not an accident but are the result of many hundreds of hours of field work by a dedicated few who are out in all weathers erecting boxes and monitoring breeding birds. Despite these successes, the work continues with many more boxes still being erected.

The Rushcliffe Barn Owl Project have published the Barn Owl Diaries which tells the story of the big Barn Owl Year of 2007 when 154 young Barn Owls were ringed.

This dedicated team — that includes Notts Birdwatchers members, Lynne Demaine, Gordon Ellis, Nigel Oram and Richard Dakin — worked an excess of over 400 man (and woman) hours in monitoring their 160 boxes and were rewarded with this record breaking total.

Unfortunately, 2008 has seen a vole shortage, so results will not be nearly as spectacular, but the work continues.

Like any conservation body, RUBOP needs funds to carry out their work and expenses include running 2 4x4 vehicles. I don't need to tell you about the current high cost of petrol, and RUBOP have been a victim of their own success and have seen a massive increase in their running costs.

I invite you to make a contribution to these running costs by purchasing a copy of the Barn Owl Diaries.

The book costs £5 plus £1 P&P, a small price to pay for seeing Barn Owls in your locality, and you can order your copy by sending you cheque to me at 5 Park Road, Plumtree Park, Keyworth, Notts, NG12 5LX or by using email and PayPal to tyto@uwclub.net. Please make cheques out to “Rushcliffe Barn Owl Project”.

The book is similar in size to our Annual Reports and contains 55 pages of text and many colour photographs.

I hope you buy one and enjoy it and so make a valuable contribution to your local Barn Owl population.

Thank you and best wishes.

Howard Broughton