Help for Local Raptors

Abingdon Naturalists Society (AbNats) and the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) have given a boost to local raptors by supplying nesting boxes.

A grant from TOE has enabled AbNats to provide opportunities for raptors such as Barn Owls, Tawny Owls, Little Owls and Kestrels to nest on the Barton Fields Nature Reserve.  A fantastic wildlife site, comprising unimproved grassland and lowland fen, Barton Fields provides ideal habitat for voles and mice, the main prey of owls. However, the trees have no nesting holes suitable for owls or kestrels. The provision of suitable nest boxes will allow these species to take advantage of the site, helping to reverse their decline.

Michael Turner (AbNats Green Team volunteer) and David Guyoncourt (Conservation Officer for AbNats) realised that the large trees on the reserve did not offer nesting holes suitable for raptors. Having consulted with Barn Owl Conservation for Oxfordshire, they identified that a number of species could be encouraged to nest on site. The nesting boxes have now been put up and Barn Owl Conservation will continue to be involved in the project by helping to monitor the boxes and report results.

Members of AbNats and Barn Owl Conservation for Oxfordshire

Ben Heaven Taylor, the CEO of Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment said “Thanks to the hard work of the volunteers from AbNats, Barton Fields Nature Reserve is an ideal hunting area for avian predators. When the team identified that nest boxes were needed, it made perfect sense to help AbNats provide these lovely birds with homes too. We hope next year will be the first of many successful breeding seasons.”

The full press release from AbNats is available here.