Howe of Alford Barn Owl Project

Through this project, farm conservation advisers will visit 18 farms within the project area to identify with the farmer good barn owl habitat and advise on how additional habitat can be created or managed. Sites for nest boxes will be identified and 2 boxes per farm installed. A farm-specific map and plan will be produced for each farm summarising the advice given and an owl identification guide for the main owl species in the area supplied. Volunteers from the local community will help with installation and monitoring of boxes. Barn Owls are on the amber list of birds of conservation concern, Aberdeenshire is to the northern end of the range for this species and so it will be at greatest risk in this area. Numbers have suffered for two main reasons; habitat loss and fragmentation due to changes in farming practices and loss of suitable nest sites as old farm buildings are converted into residential houses.