WHY not come along to Antrim Forum on Saturday, February 13 at 10am and join Antrim Borough Council and the Ulster Wildlife Trust(UWT) in building homes for Barn Owls.
Ruth Wilson, Biodiversity Officer with Antrim Borough Council, explained: "Barn Owls have been sighted along the Six Mile Water River corridor and we would like to help these wonderful birds by providing some extra nesting sites. It will be a very bu
sy morning as we construct five nest boxes of differing styles and we hope to erect one of the boxes in the local area at the end of the event. The Barn Owl likes to live in areas where there are hedgerows, ditches and rough and unimproved patches of land."
Maeve Rafferty, Ulster Wildlife Trust, added: "The Barn Owl is a truly awe-inspiring bird. They are mainly confined to lowland farmland, and their diet preference for small rodents has earned them the name as the ‘farmer’s friend’. It is estimated that there are fewer than 50 breeding pairs in Northern Ireland. This places the Barn Owl high on the priority list in terms of conservation effort and UWT is a lead partner in delivering action for this species.
"Farmers and landowners can make a massive contribution by providing suitable feeding and nest habitats. A leaflet with guidelines is available on request from the UWT or RSPB or your local DARD agri-environment advisor will also be able to provide guidance."
This project is part of the UWT ‘Home to Roost’ project, funded by Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Bombardier.
The event is suitable for over 16s. To book a place, please contact Ruth Wilson on 9446 3113 ext 1371. Lunch will be provided and you will need to wear warm clothes and sturdy footware.
If you would like to know more about biodiversity projects in your local area or if you would like to be part of the biodiversity partnership, either as an individual, community group or as a local business, please contact Ruth Wilson on the above number.
