Join today and help barn owls thrive
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.
Adam Kelly said, “We are very fortunate to have barn owls on our farm all year long. It gives us a great sense of achievement and proves that what we are doing on the farm is working. As we are a cereal farm, it means there is plenty of feed for mice and rats, which in turn provides prey for barn owls and other birds of prey. Seeing barn owls breed here for three years running is the ultimate reward for farming with nature.”