Environmental campaigners in Northern Ireland are welcoming a flourish of young barn owls following a successful nesting season.
During summer farm inspections in County Fermanagh, experts from Ulster Wildlife identified two breeding pairs, with both couples rearing five young offspring each.
According to the conservation group, raising five chicks exceeds typical numbers for the species, signalling a particularly strong year for the agricultural birds.
One set of five young owls has already left the nest, while the second group is expected to follow in the coming weeks.
The success follows efforts by Ulster Wildlife and local farmers to set up nesting boxes and cultivate suitable habitats where the population can recover.
With under 30 breeding pairs thought to survive in Northern Ireland, the species remains red-listed under Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland and holds legal protection via the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985.
Barn owls face a range of pressures locally including habitat loss, rodenticide use and lack of food prey.
The latest chicks are the first known to be ringed in Fermanagh under licence from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, with support from the British Trust for Ornithology.
Ringing is done to provide information about their survival, movements and future breeding success.
Katy Bell, senior conservation officer with Ulster Wildlife, described “fantastic news”.
“After such a difficult breeding season last year for barn owls, finding two successful nest sites, each with five healthy chicks, is fantastic news,” she said.
“Barn owls remain incredibly scarce in County Fermanagh, with few reported sightings, so this is a real boost for their conservation – and a real cause for celebration.
“None of this would have been possible without the support of local farmers and landowners like Mannok Build, who reported the birds to us and are managing their land in ways that support nature.
“As a result, we are now able to protect these sites and safeguard them from disturbance, ensuring Fermanagh’s barn owls have the best chance of success.”
Ulster Wildlife has issued an appeal for sightings of barn owls in counties Fermanagh, Tyrone and Londonderry to be reported to help build information about the birds.
Ms Bell added: “We believe there are more barn owls out there than our records currently show, particularly across the west of Northern Ireland.
“While there are no confirmed nest sites currently known in counties Tyrone or Derry/Londonderry, regular sightings suggest breeding birds are likely to be present.
“If you think you’ve seen or heard a barn owl, we’d love to hear from you.
“This information could help us locate important breeding areas and protect these iconic birds for the future.”
Barn owls are mostly nocturnal but can be seen hunting at dawn and dusk over fields, hedgerows or roadside verges.
Sightings can be reported at ulsterwildlife.org/barn-owls or by emailing barnowls@ulsterwildlife.org
The charity is particularly keen to hear from farmers, landowners and anyone who regularly travels rural roads at dawn or dusk.
Read MoreConservationists celebrate ‘bounty of barn owl chicks’ in Northern Ireland
Ancient trees destroyed in devastating New Forest fire
Robbie Butler named Stormont health minister
Stormont education minister raises concern over ‘persistent’ GCSE gender gap
Police violence surges by 40% at UK-France border, charities warn
What does today’s energy price cap actually mean for your bills?
