tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68674520569930199392024-03-13T10:13:57.374+00:00Duhallow Raptor Conservation ProjectMichael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-86738356510318039882018-08-14T12:34:00.001+01:002018-08-14T12:34:41.115+01:00Nest boxes valuable in good nesting season for Barn Owls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With numerous Barn Owl nest boxes now in place at carefully selected sites throughout Duhallow, their value has been shown this summer with several boxes newly occupied by the owls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The barn below had one of the first nest boxes to be installed in Duhallow, back in 2014. However, despite checking it each year, there was no sign of any Barn Owls moving in. Until this summer. When checked in August, there were three young Barn Owl chicks inside. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Three young barn owls in a newly occupied nest box, near Ballydesmond, August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Across Ireland, there are nest boxes which have been in place for many years before owls have moved in. In one case, in Kerry, it was eight years before the nest box was occupied, in Tipperary one was in place for almost 15 years before the owls finally decided to take up residence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The fastest any box has been occupied was at another site in South Kerry when the box was installed in early April and the birds moved in and laid eggs just 3-4 weeks later. That is rare of course and it is more typically 2 to 4 years before boxes are used. Even in seemingly perfect sites some boxes have never been used though, as we have found out, it pays to remain optimistic!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Newly installed outdoor-type Barn Owl nest box, north Duhallow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Most nest boxes are of an indoor type, placed in a disused barn or derelict building. Some are outdoor-type boxes, such as this one (above) in the north of Duhallow. Most of these are placed in trees, where suitable buildings are not present.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Barn Owl chick, east Duhallow, August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And the rewards of course are great. Barn Owls are one of the most beautiful of birds.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uYp9MZphFPA/W3Kv2T_Q1bI/AAAAAAAAIms/NNJzsJe8690jmvmwmzlMdI9c7yR2lKZyACLcBGAs/s1600/dochil.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1200" height="270" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uYp9MZphFPA/W3Kv2T_Q1bI/AAAAAAAAIms/NNJzsJe8690jmvmwmzlMdI9c7yR2lKZyACLcBGAs/s320/dochil.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Barn Owl chick, near Ballydesmond, August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Overall, where the number of chicks was accurately known at individual nests, there was an average of 3.14 chicks per nest in Duhallow, well above the national yearly average of 2.2, so it has been a good year for the species here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In total, 22 chicks were found, and 12 of these were ringed, so if we encounter those birds again we will have a good history of each.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Two young Barn Owls, near Dernagree, August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The above Barn Owl chicks were the latest in terms of timing. While most other nests were finishing up and the chicks fledging, this newly occupied nest box in an old barn has four chicks which have at least another month to go. Hopefully the autumn weather will be kind to them as they won't be flying for another five weeks or so, well into September.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Single Barn Owl chick in roof space, near Dromina, August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although many of our nest sites are now in safe nest boxes, there are still those in more traditional sites, old buildings and ruins. The one above has its nest in the gap between a corrugated iron roof and the old thatched roof of a derelict cottage, a perfectly secure nest site, though pretty warm in the sun!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fledged Barn Owl near Mallow, August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The bird above was one of three chicks which fledged from another newly occupied nest box. All three were old enough to fly well, though they were still hanging about the nest box, hoping to be fed by the parents when they return after dark. Eventually they will have to fend for themselves and head out into the world to find a nest site and a mate of their own.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yynk0dZlHxg/W3KvwVXsmoI/AAAAAAAAImc/4qZZslN8L7kNlUugOG0oI0jQlXNqAubkwCLcBGAs/s1600/box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yynk0dZlHxg/W3KvwVXsmoI/AAAAAAAAImc/4qZZslN8L7kNlUugOG0oI0jQlXNqAubkwCLcBGAs/s320/box.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Destroyed Barn Owl nest box, near Kanturk, August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although the nesting season is winding down, there is still work to be done. A few nest boxes such as the one above, have been destroyed by winter storms and will have to be replaced, and there are numerous potential new sites where nest boxes can be installed. The 2018 breeding season, more than ever, has shown that Barn Owls will readily take to well-placed and maintained nest boxes, and these sites, with the cooperation of the landowners, provide some of the safest and most productive nest sites for this beautiful bird.</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-5972182804545625412014-07-23T00:07:00.002+01:002014-07-23T00:12:25.536+01:00Four Barn Owl chicks near fledging<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's what a healthy brood of four Barn Owl chicks looks like!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Two male and two female Barn Owl chicks are on the verge of fledging from this nest box in east Kerry. All the fluffy down is now gone, and they are now almost indistinguishable from adult birds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This footage was taken on the early morning of 15th July and, by 18th, there was only one chick left at the box, so the video shows almost the last time these four will be together. Over the next week or two they will be fed by the adults in and around the site but, increasingly, away from the box itself. Soon they will learn to fend for themselves, and go their separate ways.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(You can click the arrow icon on bottom right to see the full resolution video).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Four Barn Owl chicks at a nest box in Co. Kerry (Filmed under licence from NPWS: M.O'Clery & J. Lusby).</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-19257138571257340252014-07-19T16:17:00.005+01:002014-07-19T16:22:47.029+01:00Film from a Kerry Barn Owl nest box<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here is some recent footage from a Barn Owl nest site in Co. Kerry. There are four chicks within, the oldest about 25 days, the youngest about 15 days old. The male and female are busy feeding them each night. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Some things to look out for... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The male delivers prey in the early part of the video, but note the paleness of the outer wing. He is easily distinguishable from the female who appears toward the end of the video - she has more barring on the secondaries (outer wing) and primaries (the longest wing feathers) as well as a more heavily barred tail. Not all pairs are so readily sexed, as there are some females which are only faintly barred and some slightly barred males, but this pair are particularly easy to distinguish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Notice that both the female and male are already ringed with a small metal band on their legs. An adult male and an adult female were ringed at this site in 2012, and a different female was ringed in 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The last clip shows the female outside the box, but the chorus of hisses and bill snaps is from the chicks, who either heard or saw something which alarmed them, perhaps even the female arriving at the nest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hunting seems to be good. One Bank Vole is offered to a chick, but it turns out it already has one. In another part of the clip, you can see the chick eat one item, while another lies uneaten at its feet. This surplus is often consumed by the chicks during the following day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(You can hit the arrow icon in the corner of the video for a full screen view)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Barn Owl nest camera, Co. Kerry (Video: M.O'Clery, filmed under licence from NPWS).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And here's the same box, about a week later...</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Barn Owl nest camera, Co. Kerry (Video: M.O'Clery, filmed under licence from NPWS).</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-27143622865549956632014-07-11T12:28:00.002+01:002014-07-11T12:28:43.875+01:00Barn Owl ringing shows value of nest boxes<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As the ringing of Barn Owls gets underway in Duhallow this season, the true value of nest boxes is becoming ever more apparent, both in Duhallow and beyond. In the post below, you can see the storm-damaged cottage near Newmarket, which was a nest site for Barn Owls for many years. From a ringed adult female at this site, we have discovered that she (and possibly her male partner) have relocated to a modern barn 2 km away in which one of our nest boxes was placed three years ago. The barn would have otherwise been unsuitable for nesting Barn Owls, but now, to the delight of all those involved with the nest box scheme, the Barn Owl pair have four well grown chicks in the nest box. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Four Barn Owl chicks from the nest box near Newmarket. The owls moved in some time after February 2014. Pictured holding the owls, Brin McDonnell of the Duhallow Birdwatching Club, and Elsa Corkery, UCC (M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At another site near Kanturk, when a tree nest was destroyed by storms in 2013, a nest box was put in place in the shattered tree trunk. One bird was present last summer, but this year a pair was again present, and one chick has been successfully reared in the nest box. In both these cases, we would have lost the Barn Owl nest sites if it weren't for the nest boxes. Incentive indeed to keep up the hard work in locating new suitable sites for boxes, making, installing and monitoring them.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Barn Owl nest box wedged into the shattered trunk of the tree near Kanturk. Thankfully, Barn Owls have moved back in and nested successfully in the box this year, with one chick, below. (M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">John Lusby (BirdWatch Irela</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">nd), Dario-Fernandez-Bellon (UCC) and Ilsa Corkery (UCC) retrieving the Barn Owl chick for weighing, measuring and ringing (M.</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">O'Clery).</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Barn Owl chick (M.</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The same is now happening in Co. Kerry where several sites would now be lost were it not for careful placement of nest boxes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the largest trees in Duhallow, one which has hosted a Barn Owl nest for the past two summers, is no more (for an account of this site, see <b><a href="http://duhallow.blogspot.ie/2012/06/another-extraordinary-barn-owl-nest.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>).</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VEpKRbVKIOE/U5Df4U6dL6I/AAAAAAAACYQ/YoVO2PI6TVY/s1600/duh2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VEpKRbVKIOE/U5Df4U6dL6I/AAAAAAAACYQ/YoVO2PI6TVY/s1600/duh2.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The tree, a massive Montery Cypress, in all its' glory, in summer 2012. The Barn Owl nest entrance is circled (all photos: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While checking on nesting progress at Kestrel and Barn Owl sites today, the giant Monterey Cyprus was found to be collapsed on the forest floor, and looked to have taken several other nearby trees with it. No doubt a victim of the February storm which hit the south-west of Ireland, the area nearby which had hosted a Long-eared Owl nest in 2012 was also flattened by the hurricane force winds.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m_zbg6ql7Vk/U5DclwxGrrI/AAAAAAAACYM/r8Eip7JZF3Y/s1600/duh1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m_zbg6ql7Vk/U5DclwxGrrI/AAAAAAAACYM/r8Eip7JZF3Y/s1600/duh1.jpg" height="320" width="274" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The giant tree and nest site are shattered wreckage on the forest floor.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another site destroyed by the winter storms, a cottage near Newmarket, roof ripped off, and now abandoned by Barn Owls.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not all bad news however. One traditional and one new nest sites had chicks in them, including this 10 day old Barn Owl chick. This was the youngest of two chicks at this nest box site.</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-35602673663864010312014-04-08T13:41:00.000+01:002014-04-08T13:41:16.723+01:00Duhallow Raptor Report 2012-13 now available to download<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Duhallow Raptor Conservation Project Report, 2012-13 is now available for free to download. It shows the results from the major two year project on Raptors in Duhallow, including detailed information on all the fieldwork, nest box and publicity aspects to the work.</span></div>
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Summary: In 2012 the Duhallow Raptor Conservation Project (2012 – 2013) was established to undertake innovative and strategic monitoring of Barn Owls, Long-eared Owls and Kestrels in Duhallow to further our understanding of their conservation requirements and to increase awareness and appreciation of their populations.</div>
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<b>Some of the highlights of the Report include:</b></div>
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Strategic work was undertaken in three 10 x 10km survey squares to determine densities of owl species. A density of 2.6 breeding pairs of Barn Owl per 100km<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> was recorded - higher than similar findings elsewhere in the country.</div>
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A buildings survey for Barn Owls in the three 10 x 10km survey squares found a site availability of 14.6 suitable buildings per 100km<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> and located seven nest sites and 13 roost sites. </div>
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An innovative playback and acoustic survey was also employed for Long-eared Owl for the first time in Ireland. A total of six breeding sites and seven active territories were confirmed across the three survey squares, representing a minimum density of 4.3 Long-eared Owl territories per 100km<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2</span>. </div>
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The general and strategic survey confirmed a total of 70 raptor nest sites and territories in the study area in 2012, which included 29 nest sites, nine occupied territories and 32 roost sites. </div>
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Of 35 Barn Owl sites in Duhallow, 20 were confirmed nesting sites and 15 were regular roosts. </div>
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In 2012, a total of eight Long-eared Owl nest sites were located and an additional nine occupied territories, and a single Kestrel breeding attempt and 17 roosts. </div>
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A total of 68 raptor nest sites and territories were confirmed in the study area in 2013, which included 33 nest sites, 11 occupied territories and 24 roost sites. </div>
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Of 40 Barn Owl sites, 24 were confirmed nest sites and 15 were regular roosts. </div>
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A total of 18 active Long-eared Owl sites was recorded in 2013. Eight were nest sites and nine were occupied territories from 2012 which were resurveyed in 2013, of which only one was active. One new nest site was also located. </div>
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One known Kestrel nest site and two occupied territories were also located in 2013 and nine roost sites recorded.</div>
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Monitoring of the 20 confirmed Barn Owl nest sites during the breeding season 2012 revealed that 13 (65%) were successful, while the remaining seven (35%) failing to fledge young. </div>
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A breeding success of 66.6% was recorded at six known breeding attempts for Long-eared Owl with an average brood size of 2.2 young per brood. </div>
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Seventeen Barn Owl sites remained active in 2013 (an occupancy rate of 85%) though nesting took place at only three of these (a success rate of 17.6% of occupied nest sites). </div>
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From eight active Long-eared Owl nest sites in 2013, six remained active in 2013 (an occupancy rate of 75%), though all failed to breed. </div>
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<b>Nest boxes</b></div>
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One of the first formal nest box schemes for Barn Owls and Kestrels in Ireland was undertaken for this Project. A total of 44 artificial nest sites have now been installed in Duhallow including 29 Barn Owl boxes and 15 Kestrel boxes, representing one of the highest densities in the country. </div>
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An awareness campaign was also managed throughout the project, and the work was publicised through posters (162), and a wide range of events and presentations (16), articles in newspapers and magazines (16), and features on websites (8). </div>
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This blog was also set up in March 2012 to make the project accessible to the general public. A total of 155 posts with information, photos and footage were featured, which attracted 37,506 page views from over 20 countries. </div>
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A documentary on the project was also filmed for <i>“Living the Wildlife”</i> which aired on RTE in April 2013 and was repeated in December 2013.</div>
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To download the full report, go to this page <b><a href="https://app.box.com/s/ha784ijiarvxnuloju46" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. (Opens a new window, on www.box.com, where you can view and download the file. File size is 7.9Mb).</div>
</span>Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-52593121737367154422014-01-22T19:14:00.002+00:002014-01-22T19:54:16.078+00:00Road casualties mount<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Npp7-2rDOOM/UuAW23boQFI/AAAAAAAABxA/Jb89rA5V1Sw/s1600/ring3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Npp7-2rDOOM/UuAW23boQFI/AAAAAAAABxA/Jb89rA5V1Sw/s1600/ring3.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Barn Owl road casualty, Co. Kerry, November 2013 (M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Several Barn Owl road casualties have been reported over the past months, each a blow to a population which has been diminished by a record poor breeding season in 2013. The new bypass in Tralee has claimed one, and another, reported to us yesterday, was also killed by a car.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This one had a ring on its' leg, and a check of the records revealed that it had been ringed as an adult female, by John Lusby, on 27th June 2013 at a nest site near Kenmare. Last summer, she had just one chick in the nest, one of the few we were able to find in south Kerry last summer. She was found dead by the roadside just 9km WSW from the nest site, on the outskirts of Kenmare, 149 days after it was ringed. A sad end to a beautiful bird.</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-78500253494996647282014-01-20T19:59:00.001+00:002014-01-20T19:59:29.582+00:00New nest boxes<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mid-winter, and a good time to install some more Barn Owl boxes. Below, the Rolls Royce of nest boxes, due to be trialled in Ireland this summer.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The box was made by the Acquired Brain Injury group in Castleisland, Co. Kerry, for placement at an outdoor site, attached to a tall wooden pole. This design has been successful in parts of Britain, especially in areas that have good hunting habitat for the owls, but no suitable indoor nest sites nearby. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Most Barn Owl nest boxes in Ireland are of the indoor type, as outdoor boxes are much more vulnerable to storms, they need outdoor materials (such as marine ply) and are thus more expensive to make. </span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-68742972721205198222013-12-10T17:28:00.000+00:002013-12-10T17:28:30.032+00:00Raptor talk in Newmarket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cCsVstA8gHY/UqdIU4PM2XI/AAAAAAAABiw/4g0mU39Nv6w/s1600/merlin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cCsVstA8gHY/UqdIU4PM2XI/AAAAAAAABiw/4g0mU39Nv6w/s320/merlin.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Merlin</b> (Photo: John Fox).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">John Lusby, Raptor Officer with BirdWatch Ireland, will be giving a talk on Ireland's smallest falcon, the Merlin. It is to be held on Wednesday 18th December 2013 at the James O'Keeffe Building, Newmarket, Duhallow, at 19:00. Admission is free.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For information on the James O'Keeffe Building, and how to get there, visit this website <a href="http://www.discoverireland.ie/Arts-Culture-Heritage/james-o-keeffe-memorial-institute/48785" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(opens a new window)</span>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">John has been conducting a ground-breaking survey on this elusive species, one of the rarest breeding raptors in Ireland.</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-8880122699113799302013-11-24T18:02:00.002+00:002013-11-24T18:02:27.207+00:00Winter roost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Barn Owl roosting in a garage, south Kerry, November 2013.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Barn Owls must forage much further for food in winter, and radio-tracking studies have shown that they can travel up to 7 km from their nest site in winter. This bird was recently frequenting the inside of a garage over a two week period, roosting on a pile of turf. It's unusual to have one visit such an open site, as they will normally try to hide away during the day.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(with thanks to Pat McDaid)</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-64532411327065100992013-10-15T12:24:00.001+01:002013-10-15T12:24:13.108+01:00Farm 'improvements' <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rich meadow before, pasture monoculture after, Co. Kerry (M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was a bit of a shock to return to one of our Barn Owl sites in Co. Kerry to find the whole area had been 'improved'. Instead of several large, rich meadows of grasses and wildflowers, the entire area has been bulldozed and resown, hedgerows uprooted and one of the best areas for Barn Owls in the county was now reduced to a single enormous, relatively sterile pasture. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gone are the flocks of Goldfinches and Linnets, Skylarks will no longer breed, and all the butterflies and damselflies are no more. Unseen, in the miniature understory of the waist-deep meadow grasses, would have been many field mice and voles upon which Barn Owls, Kestrels and Long-eared Owls would have fed. All are now gone.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Demolished Barn Owl roost, Co. Kerry (M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What is more, the derelict house on the edge of this area which housed a roosting Barn Owl for many years (and several bats) has been demolished.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There is still an active Barn Owl nest site nearby, but like many other sites in the country, the pair failed to produce any young in summer 2013, due to the exceptionally cold spring. We will continue to monitor the nest site, but the pair may struggle to find enough food now that one of the largest areas of productive hunting for them has effectively been removed.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cattle numbers in Ireland rose 4.4 percent and sheep by 9 percent in the past year</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.independent.ie/incoming/increase-in-cattle-leads-to-rise-to-greenhouse-gases-in-ireland-29647029.html" target="_blank">link</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, so pressure on marginal farmland is greater than ever, but as so often happens, wildlife comes out second best.</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-66844072351616003752013-09-24T17:43:00.001+01:002013-09-24T17:44:23.107+01:00Young Kestrels disperse<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By now, all our Kestrel nests have been empty for some weeks, and this years' fledglings will have dispersed away from their nesting areas. Some will travel tens of kilometers, some much further. One adventurous Kestrel ringed in Co. Kerry in 2009 was found later that year in the north of France. They are also generally more widespread in autumn and winter as young birds wander in search of food, and eventually their own territories.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">During a boat trip to look for unusual seabirds in August of this year, a young Kestrel was seen flying over the boat, traveling in a north easterly direction, from the open ocean toward the Blasket Islands, some 5 km distant. Where this bird had come from is anyone's guess, but it would be nice to think a French bird might have made it to Ireland!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Juvenile <b>Kestrel</b>, hunting along a beach near Castlegregory, Co. Kerry, 24th September 2013 (M. O'Clery)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you get a close look at a Kestrel at this time of year it is possible to differentiate young birds from adult females (though they look very similar). Look for the frosty whitish tips to the outer wing feathers, much less pronounced on adult females. They can be clearly seen in this photo (Photo: Michael O'Clery).</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-43330747297385677562013-09-06T22:51:00.001+01:002013-09-06T22:51:12.935+01:00Irish Times article on Barn Owls and rodenticides<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A recent article in the Irish Times, highlighting the serious effect of rat poisons on Barn Owls and other birds of prey. See the article</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/rat-and-mouse-poisons-devastating-irish-barn-owl-1.1516374" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-64283725524592168992013-09-05T14:25:00.001+01:002013-09-05T14:25:19.613+01:00Altitude not a problem for Barn Owls<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the early days of the national Barn Owl Survey in Ireland, it was thought that the owls were predominantly a lowland species, and initially at least, areas over 150m were not included in surveys. However, after 10km squares in Co. Kerry were surveyed in 2008 and 2009, it quickly became clear that altitude was not necessarily a limiting factor for Barn Owls after all. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We now know, thanks to some of the earlier survey work, and the recent studies in Duhallow, that there are in fact many sites on higher ground. Here is one such example, discovered by survey work just a couple of days ago. It is one of the highest buildings on this hill in E. Kerry, reached by a long, narrow, long-forgotten lane. Inside were several pellets and a few Barn Owl feathers, signs that it had recently been used as a roost. It was at an altitude of 190 metres.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cottage high on a hill, Co. Kerry, September 2013 (Photo: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In Duhallow we have recorded 9 sites that are over 200 metres altitude, and of these, 4 have been active nest sites. The highest nest was at 245 metres. The highest roost found to date is close to Ballydesmond, at 305 metres altitude. It seems that habitat in these higher areas is suitable for Barn Owls to hunt in, especially where rough grassland, forestry edge and plantations occur, so the true limiting factor seems to be the height at which old and derelict cottages occur. There are in fact very few building above the 300 metre contour anywhere in the study area, but, where there are suitable derelict buildings and good nearby habitat, regardless of altitude, Barn Owls can occur.</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-34413781934288446662013-09-02T21:11:00.003+01:002013-09-02T21:11:50.017+01:00Initial results of the 2013 Duhallow Barn Owl Survey<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As field work for the 2013 Barn Owl breeding season winds down, the results of the monitoring of known nest sites makes for rather gloomy reading. All known sites in Duhallow were monitored and/or visited during the season, often many times. Full and detailed results will be posted here soon, but a summary of results to date are as follows: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Duhallow 2013</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> – Total 21 sites – 3 pairs nested – 6 chicks.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Average chicks per nest - 2.0.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By far the poorest breeding season to date, and the number of chicks produced per active nest in Duhallow (2.0) was a little below average. The corresponding figures for Duhallow in 2012 were:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Duhallow 2012</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> - Total 20 sites - 13 pairs nested - 20 chicks.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Average chicks per nest - 2.16.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A Duhallow Barn Owl site where birds nested in 2012, but not in 2013 (Photo: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A site in Kerry which shared several aspects with other Barn Owl sites around the country during the 2013 breeding season – a pair present, the nest site secure and undisturbed, but birds didn't nest. Courtship between the pair continued well into August before petering out late in the month (Photo: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Of the 21 Duhallow known nest sites, only one was apparently abandoned, with no activity detected there for</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> at least a year. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Of the 18 sites in Duhallow where breeding didn't take place, pairs of owls were known to be still present at 10, at least one owl was still present at 6, and recent activity was detected at 1 other.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The high number of sites still occupied by Barn Owls is encouraging despite the poor breeding season.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A male and female Barn Owl caught and ringed at another site in Kerry. Although the signs were good all through the spring, they failed to breed (Photo: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Duhallow Raptor Conservation Project</b></span></span></span></div>
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Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-69281450491380082072013-08-31T15:39:00.000+01:002013-08-31T15:39:11.931+01:00Barn Owl chick makes it<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-592gtREPCrE/UiH9bCBnQUI/AAAAAAAABNI/-vUqsHDnfnw/s1600/success.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-592gtREPCrE/UiH9bCBnQUI/AAAAAAAABNI/-vUqsHDnfnw/s320/success.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">John Lusby holds the Barn Owl chick after ringing, Co. Kerry, 2nd August 2013 (Photo: Jill Crosher).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ringing and measuring the Barn Owl chick, Co. Kerry, 2nd August 2013 (Photo: Jill Crosher).</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At last, some good news form one of our Barn Owl nests in Co. Kerry, one of the few which produced young this summer. The single chick was healthy and well when we ringed, weighed and measured it on 2nd August. A check on the site two days ago revealed that the chick is doing well and has almost fledged. It will probably be leaving the nest site in the very near future.</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-10352166965941771432013-08-29T11:03:00.002+01:002013-08-29T11:03:25.793+01:00Another traditional Barn Owl site fails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A visit by the team in early August. two adults were seen at the house (M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Barn Owls have bred here for many years (M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This site in Duhallow has had Barn Owls nesting for many years, according to the locals who witnessed the young in each of the last number of summers. An adult pair was detected here in early August and although no young were seen it was decided to do a watch at dusk to see what was going on. Unfortunately, at dusk two days ago, both adults emerged, one from the chimney and one from the roof space, and without calling headed off to hunt. They didn't return within an hour and there was no snoring calls heard that would reveal the presence of young. Another failed site. Like so many other sites this year adults are still present and, if they survive the winter, will no doubt try again next year.</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-73043519178405686382013-08-26T07:39:00.004+01:002013-08-26T07:39:57.697+01:00A wander through the castle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a look at this extraordinary site in Co. Kerry, a traditional Barn Owl site where they have nested for many years at the top of the highest tower.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barn Owl site in an abandoned castle, Co. Kerry, August 2013 (Filmed under licence: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-10664993481289237922013-08-24T11:43:00.000+01:002013-08-24T11:43:18.722+01:00A view inside a secure Barn Owl nest<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A final check was made on one site in Duhallow where breeding hadn't taken place this summer, just in case of any late nesting attempts. A camera was sent up into the nest area in the small attic space to see what was going on. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The old cottage has had breeding owls in both of the previous seasons, since its discovery in 2011. They had two young in each of those years (M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barn Owl nest site, Duhallow, 22nd August 2013 (Filmed under licence: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, no chicks. Although you can't see it in the video, one of the adults is actually tucked away at the very back of the attic space. Access is through a single missing slate on the roof, and you can see how dry, secluded and secure this nest site is. At least the adults are still present here and hopefully they will survive the winter to breed again next summer.</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-40013825772336835062013-08-23T11:01:00.000+01:002013-08-24T11:24:04.198+01:00A single feather reveals a new Barn Owl site<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QKbbiN_C1gw/UhcyhZM-6UI/AAAAAAAABKE/gCIu9o_PSjc/s1600/singlefeather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QKbbiN_C1gw/UhcyhZM-6UI/AAAAAAAABKE/gCIu9o_PSjc/s320/singlefeather.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Derelict cottage in East Kerry (M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a look at the video below of this derelict cottage in east Kerry, taken yesterday…</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This single white feather raised suspicions and led to the discovery of a probable Barn Owl nest site. The signs of an occupied Barn Owl site can be subtle enough, but although it might be missed on the outside, the signs of the presence of Barn Owls were easily visible inside.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A single barn owl feather on the chimney led to the discovery (Photo: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inside, below the chimney, there were many Barn Owl feathers and pellets. We attached a camera to a long extendable tripod and looked closer at the chimney. Near the top of the chimney shaft is a small alcove, and behind it you can just see an opening into an attic space – an absolutely ideal and secure nest site, with Barn Owl feathers and pellets much in evidence. We will investigate this new site further in the coming days. </span></div>
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Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-13659348562934718122013-08-21T22:37:00.000+01:002013-08-21T22:37:13.781+01:00Another site falls silent<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are one or two late Barn Owl nests still active, and some sites, such as in the post below, have very young chicks which may not fledge until autumn. This has prompted us to re-check sites where pairs were present this summer, but didn't breed. It is hoped that some might attempt to raise young even this late in the year.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barn Owl site in Co. Kerry. Nesting has been successful at this site in each of the last three years, but the pair did not breed this year (Photo: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the site above, an old mansion in Co. Kerry, a pair has been very active of late, calling and being very attentive toward each other. However a watch of the site this evening showed that they have finally given up on breeding for this year. There was no calling between the birds and no obvious courtship behaviour. The two just preened and went their separate ways to hunt for the night.</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-90085646084508716592013-08-15T19:47:00.000+01:002013-08-15T19:47:12.034+01:00Late Barn Owl chicks raise hopes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wuqmCrFTsyA/Ug0ejdN6e0I/AAAAAAAABJc/Z5DN3rImTmk/s1600/nest01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wuqmCrFTsyA/Ug0ejdN6e0I/AAAAAAAABJc/Z5DN3rImTmk/s320/nest01.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The nest site in the wall cavity, centre of picture (Photo: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The discovery of at least two very late Barn Owl chicks at a site in Co. Kerry has raised hopes that other pairs which have seemingly given up on breeding for this year might yet be attempting to nest.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two very young chicks were heard a few days ago at the nest site in a cavity in a wall (centre of photo), and estimated to be only 10 to 15 days old. This would mean that they might not be able to fly until early October, and might not leave the nest until late October. This is a great gamble for the adult birds. If the autumn is wet and stormy, they will be unable to provide food for the growing chicks, but if it remains mild and largely dry, they might just manage to raise the young successfully. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pair present at this site were displaying vigorously all through spring (see, eg, this post <b><a href="http://duhallow.blogspot.ie/2013/05/barn-owl-chick-or-something-else.html">HERE</a></b>), but by late June and early July, they were largely silent, there were no sounds of chicks, and the breeding attempt seemed to have fizzled out for the year. Perhaps the exceptional weather in July allowed them to hunt well enough to try again.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are several Barn Owl sites in Duhallow at which the adults have seemingly given up on breeding for this season so we will make a point of returning to each of those again for a careful check to make sure we detect any more which might be breeding this late. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The appearance of chicks late in the year is not without precedent in Ireland and well developed young have been found at a nest in Wexford in December, though as ever, the weather will play the most important role in the outcome of any late nests.</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-8029882403906782013-08-08T11:25:00.000+01:002013-08-08T11:25:05.481+01:00Barn Owl of a certain age<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below, some video of an adult Barn Owl, trapped for ringing at a site in Duhallow. A pair was present, and had laid eggs, though these were subsequently abandoned. John Lusby, Raptor Officer with BirdWatch Ireland, after ringing the bird, describes how the owl moults (replaces) wing feathers and how you can work out the age of the bird. In this case, it is a bird in its third year.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three year old Barn Owl, Duhallow, August 2013 (Filmed under licence: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-82519427903126311232013-08-06T18:50:00.000+01:002013-08-06T18:50:24.936+01:00Empty nests<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We have been finding that many Barn Owl nests all over Duhallow, and elsewhere in the country have failed this summer, mainly due to the exceptionally cold spring. Here are two such sites, first a quarry in Duhallow, and below, an unusual nest in ivy roots inside a barn in Kerry.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1cawNBs8KMY/Ufz-O3l6sGI/AAAAAAAABFs/uwUUyLiGDmw/s1600/empty2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1cawNBs8KMY/Ufz-O3l6sGI/AAAAAAAABFs/uwUUyLiGDmw/s320/empty2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The nest entrance in the limestone quarry face can be seen in the centre of the photo. The entrance hole leads to a chamber about a metre long and 40cm wide (photographed under licence: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bkw9gfDPogU/Ufz-PpM1JWI/AAAAAAAABF0/7hYTJFz5IzE/s1600/empty1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bkw9gfDPogU/Ufz-PpM1JWI/AAAAAAAABF0/7hYTJFz5IzE/s320/empty1.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inside the nest chamber, only moulted Barn Owl feathers and pellets. Fresh signs of adults, but no chicks (photographed under licence: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DJjEnpJeFCw/Ufz-IYW7g7I/AAAAAAAABFk/wGRoynWfMSc/s1600/empty4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DJjEnpJeFCw/Ufz-IYW7g7I/AAAAAAAABFk/wGRoynWfMSc/s320/empty4.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An unusual nest site in the tangled roots of ivy which have grown down through a long-abandoned barn. Adult Barn Owls were present here, but we found four eggs, abandoned. The female was able to lay the eggs sometime in the spring but then didn't get sufficient food from the male to allow her to incubate them, thus had to leave to hunt for herself. The eggs would have chilled and failed to hatch (photographed under licence: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867452056993019939.post-17826838209313313642013-08-05T15:55:00.005+01:002013-08-05T15:55:52.711+01:00Tree + Tree = Three<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two tree nests in Duhallow were visited recently, one proved to be empty, the other had three young chicks present. These were removed gently from the nest for ringing, weighing and measuring before being carefully returned. The eldest is about 25 days old, the youngest about a week younger. It has proved to be one of the few productive nests found anywhere in Duhallow this season.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two tree Barn Owl nests in Duhallow, with three chicks at one (Filmed under licence: M.O'Clery).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">This site also produced three young last year. You can see the video on this page <b><a href="http://duhallow.blogspot.ie/2012/07/three-tree-chicks.html">HERE</a></b>.</span></span></div>
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Michael O'Cleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083256051671983335noreply@blogger.com