Co. Down farm nurtures rare barn owls for third year running - Ulster Wildlife
One of Northern Ireland’s rarest birds, the barn owl, has bred successfully for the third year in a row at the Kelly family farm in Ballyalton, County Down, offering hope for the recovery of this iconic species.
Barn owls were once a familiar sight across farmland and are fondly known as the “farmer’s friend” for their natural pest control. But with the loss of rough grassland, thick hedgerows, and old trees for nesting, their numbers have plummeted, with fewer than 30 breeding pairs remaining.
Determined to help barn owls and a host of threatened farmland species, the Kelly family has been working with local nature conservation charities Ulster Wildlife and RSPB NI for many years to bring nature back.
From planting winter bird cover to feed birds and mammals, and maintaining thick hedgerows for nesting, to creating pollinator margins, and species-rich meadows to boost insects, every corner of the farm has been managed with nature in mind. Ten barn owl nest boxes have also been erected across the farm by Ulster Wildlife to provide much-needed nesting sites.
After witnessing barn owls hunt over their farm for years, the family’s efforts finally reaped reward in 2023, when they welcomed their first breeding pair. The owls have since returned every year, raising three chicks in the nest boxes installed.
Posted On: 04/09/2025
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