Custom built Barn Owl Boxes are being placed in various parts of the county borough to provide this owl, which has been declining in recent years, with a new home.
Neath Port Talbot Council and the Biodiversity Forum’s Bird Sub Group has secured funding from the Countryside Council for Wales to provide the birds with a safe and secure home to protect them from harm and loss from sites in Neath Port Talbot.
Once relatively common in lowland agricultural areas, these enigmatic birds have declined dramatically in recent years. This is partly due to reduced feeding opportunities (from changes in agricultural practices) and from a reduction in suitable nest sites, which as their name suggests, are often old barns / agricultural buildings.
Due to its vulnerability, the Barn Owl is afforded protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act at all times. It is a species that hunts over open ground favouring vole-rich wet pasture and unimproved fields.
The installation of these Barn Owl boxes is part of a phased project, carried out to meet targets and actions in the NPT Biodiversity Action Plan.
Initially, the authority earmarked suitable habitat for the Barn Owl within the county borough, as well as identifying potential breeding sites before installing the boxes at a dozen farm buildings. It is anticipated that a similar number again will go up this spring and summer.
Ali Thomas, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, “This project demonstrates the commitment that the council has for the conservation of wildlife and habitats. The protection of our biodiversity is vital in order to ensure a healthy environment for us in Neath Port Talbot and we will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure the continued delivery of such initiatives.”
Catrin Evans, Biodiversity Team Leader, said, “The boxes will be a very valuable resource for the Barn Owl and should help to reverse the decline in their numbers. We hope to see the first residents moving in the very near future.”
For more information please contact the Biodiversity Unit on 01639 686155 or e-mail [email protected]
