Barn owl (Tyto alba)
The barn owl is present across most of the UK but has unfortunately suffered declines in the last century, largely due to changes in agricultural practice affecting its feeding habitats. As such, the barn owl is now fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Several barn owl nestboxes have been erected on the Brackenhurst campus in conjunction with South Nottinghamshire Ringing Group. A number of students have undertaken final year research projects on barn owls and have investigated topics including the abundance of prey items in owl pellets in relation to breeding success.
