Barn Owl Success for Pulborough Brooks

The barn owl chicks at RSPB Pulborough Brooks nature reserve have just had identification rings put on their legs, and so came down out of their nestbox for the first time in their lives.

Site Manager, Tim Callaway braved the high ladder and brought the owlets down for Dr. Barry Watson, the BTO barn owl ringer in Sussex. Barry weighed, measured, aged and sexed the chicks and found a very healthy pair of one male and one female.

The male was aged at 47 days old and the female at 43 days. Both the young owls should be ready to fly the nest within the next couple of weeks – although it is likely that they will continue to use the nest box for the first few weeks after fledging.

Samantha Stokes, RSPB Visitor Officer, said: “It will be sad to see this family leave as we have been watching their development so closely over the past few months. However, it is great to know that these chicks are healthy and ready to fledge”.

The live footage of the barn owl’s nest box can be viewed throughout the day whilst the visitor centre is open (9.30 am – 5 pm).

For further information about RSPB Pulborough Brooks (located off the A283 between Pulborough and Storrington) and its barn owls, please call the reserve on 01798 875851 or email pulborough.brooks@rspb.org.uk.

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