Blyth Valley and Southwold Wildlife Group: March report

Barn owls and red kites

The Blyth Valley and Southwold Group of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust welcomed Simon Dudhill from the Hawk and Owl Trust to talk about his work with barn owls and red kites. Simon has worked for many years with owls and other raptors, monitoring their progress, and building nest boxes suitable for each type of bird. Owls don’t build their own nests, but rely largely on outbuildings and trees. The reduction of these habitats has meant that now 80% of barn owls use large oblong or triangular boxes, which you may well have seen. If a barn owl chick falls out of its box, it is in grave danger as its parents do not look for it or try to feed it. However, it is sometimes possible to foster a found chick by placing it in another carefully selected nest box. Simon and his colleagues monitor over 800 boxes in an area radiating out from Peterborough. They are licenced to check and ring the birds, and, happily, this species is now generally secure.

The second part of the talk was about red kites. Spain has asked the RSPB for help with its declining red kite population. Northamptonshire is highly populated with kites, and it is here that Simon, as part of a team, is finding chicks to help with this project. The scheme has been running for three years now and, so far, 96 chicks have settled into their new homes. The process is done with great care. Forestry England supplies experienced and licenced climbers who can bring chicks down to the ground. There is always one chick left in the nest, and the same nest is not revisited for three years. They are carefully and fully health-checked, ringed, and fitted with GPS trackers before their journey to their new habitat. They are now breeding successfully with local birds and rearing their young.

The photography was beautiful, and it was a fascinating and enjoyable evening.

Our next meeting is back at the Southwold Arts Centre IP18 6JP on Thursday, 10th April at 7.30 pm. There will be a short AGM followed by a film, The River Gipping, featuring Paul Heiney. There will be refreshments and a raffle. Admission free.

Penny Mansfield