Barn owl
Why is the barn owl endangered in Denmark?
If you rewind to the 1960s, the barn owl was one of Jutland's most common owl species. Unfortunately, this is not the case today, quite the opposite. The barn owl is now one of the most endangered owl species in Denmark, and it risks disappearing as a native species if nothing is done.
There are currently less than 15 breeding pairs of barn owls and a few single birds, mainly concentrated in Himmerland. However, the remaining breeding pairs live so far apart that their chicks may have difficulty finding each other to form new pairs. The species therefore urgently needs help if it is to survive as a breeding bird in Denmark. To achieve a stable and viable population, the species needs to reach over 100 individuals.
Facts about the barn owl
The barn owl is Denmark's smallest breeding owl and is comparable in size to a blackbird. It measures between 22-25 cm and has a fighting weight of between 150 and 200 grams. It can be recognised by its very small head, long legs and yellow eyes. Its feathers change colour depending on where on its body you look at it. On the upper side, the feathers are brownish and speckled with white, while the underside is whitish with faint dark stripes. The barn owl breeds when it is around 1 year old and can produce six eggs and chicks per pair per year under favourable (feeding) conditions.
Their favourite food sources are mice, earthworms and beetles, and the best conditions for finding food are a varied landscape near a farm with shelterbelts and grass strips combined with grazed areas where the barn owls can locate their prey. Modern agriculture with large uniform fields is therefore one of the reasons for the decline in the number of barn owls.
The barn owl population was in steep decline in 2005, with the average number of fledged chicks more than halving from 2.8 to 1.2 fledged chicks. This is clearly due to a lack of food during the incubation and fledging period. Food shortages have been a focal point in the fight to keep the barn owl alive, which is why, over the past many years, food (day-old chicks emptied of yolk sacs) has been placed in places where the barn owl learns to collect it. This keeps the average number of chicks flying from the nest as high as possible and allows the population to continue to grow. In addition to these efforts, a large number of nest boxes have also been installed at locations with known pairs of barn owls and places where the barn owls are expected to settle. These efforts are carried out by volunteers committed to the cause and through the project "Project Barn Owl".
For more info:
In their scientific report, DCE (Danish Centre for Environment and Energy) has documented the biological habitat of the barn owl, including what the barn owl requires from its habitat. Read more here:
What is Project Barn Owl?
Project Barn Owl is a working group set up by the Wildlife Management Council (VFR). VFR has put together a Barn Owl group with representatives from several stakeholders, and the group's most important purpose is to lead the work and efforts to save the Barn Owl from extinction in Denmark. The group members consist of representatives from:
- Agriculture and Food
- Animal Protection Sweden
- Danish Society for Nature Conservation
- Danish Hunters' Association
- Danish Ornithological Society
The national working group works together with local enthusiasts to keep the remaining pairs of Barn Owls alive in Denmark. They are also responsible for organising a long-term rescue plan that will include the necessary objectives, actions and financial calculations of what such a rescue plan will require in terms of effort and resources. The project will run for the next five years.
One million for habitat improvements
In June 2021, Minister for the Environment Lea Wermelin pledged to support the project with DKK 1 million, which will be used for the experiment to improve the habitat for barn owls. The trial aims to investigate whether and how to optimise the living conditions for barn owls so that they can fend for themselves and find enough food to maintain and increase the population. Project Barn Owl has initiated a collaboration with volunteer barn owl hosts who already have owls on their property, where they provide access to nest boxes and regular feeding. The barn owl caretakers will receive advice from the group's members, each contributing their own knowledge on the matter.
Aalborg Zoo and Aarhus University, together with the many volunteers involved, also contribute to Project Barn Owl. The work includes supplementary feeding of day-old chicks to the barn owls to ensure the survival of the chicks and the installation of nest boxes, as the barn owl does not have many natural places to nest. In addition, an important part of the work is also to build a network of volunteers to increase the number of people involved in localising barn owls, as well as to focus on and disseminate the project. The results of the efforts are monitored by researchers from Aarhus University, and Aalborg Zoo supports the national working group by coordinating the local conservation work for the barn owl.
Aalborg Zoo's Conservation Fund has also earmarked DKK 25,000 in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to support emergency and temporary measures to maintain, and hopefully increase, the existing population of barn owls in Denmark.
How you can help
If you want to make a difference for the barn owls in Denmark and support Project Barn Owl, you can make a donation of any amount directly to Mobile Pay 309120 (Aalborg Zoo).
If you have observed church owls or know where there is a breeding pair, please report it to [email protected] You can also contact Professor at Aalborg University Cino Pertoldi at [email protected]
Read the leaflet about the barn owl:
