Introduction

The barn owl is an iconic species of less intensively managed farmland, feeding on small mammals found in rough grassland. It is largely active at dawn and dusk, and roosts in trees and buildings, laying eggs in tree cavities, barns or other draught-free buildings.

Barn owl is widespread in the UK , but suffered a more than 50% decline in the latter half of the 20 th century. The main factors in this decline are thought to include loss of rough grassland due to intensive farming, poisoning by pesticides, persecution and high winter mortality in severe winters.

An increase since the mid 1970s in breeding success and survival rates corresponds to a decline in the levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in barn owl corpses.

Local status

A recent revival in the numbers of barn owls seen in the Durham BAP area might be related to a number of additional factors. Lack of snow cover in Durham during the winter in recent years may be one. The expansion of rough grassland areas as part of young tree planting projects in the Great North Forest may be another, although some of this resource will be lost as the trees mature on parts of the sites.

The barn owl is widespread but sparse in the Durham BAP area, with local concentrations east of Durham City and towards the coast, in the north-west of the area and Gateshead and south of Durham City.

Current or recent activity

Recent and current agri-environment schemes – Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship – have started to provide additional rough grassland areas along field margins.

The Durham Bird Club continues to manufacture and erect barn owl boxes, to advise others on locating boxes and provide monitoring for many of the known nesting sites.

The Durham Biodiversity Partnership created and erected over 25 barn owl boxes in the Wear and Tees areas using funding through the Mineral Valleys Project.

HMP Holme House and HMP Frankland have manufactured barn owl boxes for the Durham Biodiversity Partnership using funding from the County Durham Environment Trust (CDENT).

Threats

•  Loss of rough grassland habitat.

•  Loss of suitable nest sites due to decline in the number of hedgerow trees, and the re-development of farm buildings.

•  Increased deaths of barn owls from road accidents.

•  Low level poisoning by pesticides suppresses breeding performance of barn owls.

•  Harsh winter weather.

Objectives Maintain and seek to increase existing populations and range of barn owls in the DBAP area. Increased provision of barn owl nesting sites / nest boxes in appropriate undisturbed locations in good barn owl habitat to encourage range and population expansion. Provide suitable habitats to ensure the long-term success of barn owl populations in the DBAP area. Reduce barn owl road casualties on major roads. Continue monitoring of barn owl populations.