Like little white fluffy clouds' - Louth conservationists welcome rare barn owl chicks
'We thought there were only two, so finding a third chick was a lovely surprise,' the group shared. 'They looked like little white fluffy clouds. They were just awesome to see up close.'
The owlets, aged between 28 and 35 days, were carefully removed from the box for ringing under licence by Alan McCarthy of BirdWatch Ireland, with the support of a National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) ranger and the local landowner.
As part of the conservation effort, volunteers have been keeping a close eye on barn owl habitats across the county, but this was one of the rare occasions they were able to interact directly with the birds before fledging.
'Usually, we only see them when they're nearly fully grown and behaving like adults. To see them at this stage was really special,' the team said.
Barn owls (Tyto alba) are listed as a species of conservation concern in Ireland due to habitat loss, rodenticide poisoning, and increased road traffic. Local efforts, including the installation of nest boxes across Louth, aim to help the birds re-establish secure breeding sites in rural areas.
This latest discovery is a clear sign that the hard work is paying off.
'It was a very special day for all of us involved,' the group added. 'We can't wait to see them again in a few weeks when they'll be big enough to leave the box and look out on the world.'
The Louth Barn Owl Project is encouraging members of the public to report barn owl sightings or suspected nesting locations via BirdWatch Ireland, to help continue the progress.
For now, the team are watching from a respectful distance, as these three little owls prepare for life beyond the box, soaring a little bit closer to a comeback for the species in Louth.
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The team, who have been monitoring a specially installed nest box at a confidential location, were thrilled to discover three healthy owlets inside, two males and one female when the time came for ringing. 'We thought there were only two, so finding a third chick was a lovely surprise,' the group shared. 'They looked like little white fluffy clouds. They were just awesome to see up close.' The owlets, aged between 28 and 35 days, were carefully removed from the box for ringing under licence by Alan McCarthy of BirdWatch Ireland, with the support of a National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) ranger and the local landowner. As part of the conservation effort, volunteers have been keeping a close eye on barn owl habitats across the county, but this was one of the rare occasions they were able to interact directly with the birds before fledging. 'Usually, we only see them when they're nearly fully grown and behaving like adults. To see them at this stage was really special,' the team said. Barn owls (Tyto alba) are listed as a species of conservation concern in Ireland due to habitat loss, rodenticide poisoning, and increased road traffic. Local efforts, including the installation of nest boxes across Louth, aim to help the birds re-establish secure breeding sites in rural areas. This latest discovery is a clear sign that the hard work is paying off. 'It was a very special day for all of us involved,' the group added. 'We can't wait to see them again in a few weeks when they'll be big enough to leave the box and look out on the world.' The Louth Barn Owl Project is encouraging members of the public to report barn owl sightings or suspected nesting locations via BirdWatch Ireland, to help continue the progress. For now, the team are watching from a respectful distance, as these three little owls prepare for life beyond the box, soaring a little bit closer to a comeback for the species in Louth.
