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Factfile | |
| How YOU can help Barn Owls | ||
Adopt a Box |
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 The perfect gift at any time of year Nestboxes for Barn Owls are likely to be more important than ever. A boom in the number of young hatched in 2007 means there could be increased pressure on the housing market for first timers as they pair up to look for a home. That’s why the Hawk and Owl Trust is urging people to Adopt a Box for themselves or as a gift for another owl lover to support its vital conservation, research and education work for owls and other birds of prey. The Trust is Britain¹s leading charity dedicated to protecting wild birds of prey and their habitats. Already about 4 in every 5 Barn Owl pairs use nestboxes for their homes, as old hollow trees are felled, and barns and other farm buildings are converted for housing. At the last count, a joint Hawk and Owl Trust/British Trust for Ornithology survey found only an estimated 4,000 breeding pairs in the UK, compared with 12,000 in the 1930s. But that¹s still a large number of birds looking for somewhere to nest. To compensate for the loss of natural nest sites, as a key part of its conservation work, the Hawk and Owl Trust puts up nestboxes in suitable areas where there is plenty of food for a growing family of owls. Putting up these nestboxes, which for barn owls are almost as large as dog kennels, is specialist work. During the breeding season specially trained and licensed conservationists monitor the nestboxes and adopters are sent news about what¹s been going on in their adopted boxes ‹ what kind of birds have roosted or nested there and how many eggs were laid or young reared. Most of the boxes are designed for Barn Owls but other species which might use them include Tawny or Little Owl, Kestrel or Jackdaw. An Adopt a Box subscription makes a delightful gift for friends and family who love owls. In 1992 The Hawk and Owl Trust launched its Adopt a Box scheme to offer owl lovers unable to take part in fieldwork, another way to help and an insight into birds of prey. In return for adopting one of the Trust’s many nest boxes for only £15.00 per year, adopters receive regular news about their box. Because these birds are so special and Barn Owls, in particular, are specially protected by law, we cannot tell you exactly where your box is. However, the Trust experts, who are specially licensed, regularly check the boxes. Remember - Adopting a Box is a lifeline for an owl family. So Adopt a Box by sending us a completed Adopt a Box application form and help us to provide much-needed homes for owl families. What You Get: • news of what’s been going on in your box (sent in November at the end of each breeding season) • an attractive certificate • owl facts - an illustrated guide to Britain’s owls • a colourful sticker - one of a series to collect • a regular newsletter. For Adopt a Box enquiries, please e-mail: membership@hawkandowl.org or call 0870 990 3889 The Hawk and Owl Trust is a Registered Charity No: 1058565 |
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