2006, Another record against all odds.

We were advised that egg laying was late so we left the first inspections until late May.
However, a pair in box 42 ignored the national trend by laying eggs in late February and I found 2 almost fledged chicks on 27th May. It’s probable that an Owl which left the box was another fledged young.

All the other inspections revealed birds either on eggs or not breeding at all. A dead female on 5 eggs on Cotgrave Place GC was to be our only mortality of the year.

The regular boxes at Owthorpe and Hickling were barren but new boxes used for the first time were at Barton in Fabis, Gotham, Ruddington and Tollerton while Barn Owls returned to boxes at Tollerton, Plumtree and Radcliffe on Trent after absences last year. Pairs at Kinoulton, Bingham, Whatton and Keyworth failed some after hatching and the pair in the tree at Owthorpe also failed. Those that did breed raised very small broods, some with a single chick and we had 3 with 4 chicks.

Later in the year, our numbers were boosted when we found 2 2nd broods of six at Gamston and Cotgrave Place and a late breeding pair with 5 chicks at Widmerpool. All these chicks fledged and with another 2 pairs having small 2nd broods, enabled us to beat last years record total with 59 chicks raised from 16 pairs; 4 of which 2nd brooded.
While most Barn Owl projects have reported a dismal year with very low breeding totals, we’ve managed to secure another improvement.

Hopefully next year will be a better year with more of our boxes occupied.

Other news: 2005, 2004, 2003