Four barn owls hatch in live-streamed nest

1 hour ago

Chloe ParkmanDevon

A National Trust ranger said it was a "really high number of eggs" for a barn owl

National Trust A black and white image shows a barn owl inside a bird box next to its unhatched eggs. It is raising a wing. The bird box is made of wood. — A National Trust ranger said it was a "really high number of eggs" for a barn owl

Four owlets have hatched after hundreds of wildlife enthusiasts watched a barn owl incubate her eggs and her mate bring in food via a live stream.

The National Trust set up a camera last month after nine eggs were laid in a bird box at Arlington Court near Barnstaple, Devon.

The first three eggs hatched on Monday and the fourth hatched on Wednesday.

Ranger Ellie Wyatt, who monitors wildlife populations, said it was a "really high number of eggs for a barn owl to have laid" and she expected the remaining eggs would hatch every two to three days.

National Trust ranger Ellie Wyatt said the eggs would hatch every few days

National Trust A black and white screengrab from the live stream. It shows a barn owl inside the birdbox which is covering its eggs. Voles are strewn across the inside of the box. The barn owl is sleeping. An image in the top right corner shows the outside of the wooden bird box. A second barn owl is visible perching at the door. — National Trust ranger Ellie Wyatt said the eggs would hatch every few days

The charity said it was live-streaming the owls as part of its Window to the Wild project, offering a "rare opportunity" to watch a barn owl as it prepares to raise its young.

Wyatt said: "Barn owls are just magical, they're classic in our countryside.

"If barn owl numbers are doing well, to me that's a sign that nature is doing quite well."

David Howes, area ranger for North Devon, said there had been a "huge increase in small mammals" at the site after land management changes, which includes part of conservation work to increase numbers of the birds of prey on the estate.

"That's feeding right up the food chain," he added.

The species are rarely seen up close in the wild

National Trust Images Barry Edwards A barn owl is perched on a branch over a countryside view. Rolling hills, green fields and, trees and bushes are visible in the background behind the owl. The bird is mostly white in colour. It has a heart-shaped face and big dark eyes. — The species are rarely seen up close in the wild

The charity said changes in land management included reducing grazing pressure and allowing grasslands, hedgerows and scrub to recover to create "ideal conditions for voles and other prey species".

"What we're seeing at Arlington is a real sign that nature can recover when you give it space," Howes said.

The trust said the birds of prey were known for their silent flight and distinctive heart-shaped faces and were rarely seen up close in the wild, usually hunting at dusk or under the cover of darkness.

It said two barn owl pairs were recorded at Arlington in 2021 and three pairs had been recorded using buildings across the estate since 2022.