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Harsh winters threaten barn owls | Harsh winters threaten barn owls |
(40 minutes later) | |
Bird experts say the number of barn owl deaths has risen three fold as a result of harsh winters. | Bird experts say the number of barn owl deaths has risen three fold as a result of harsh winters. |
More than 100 of the birds were found dead across the UK in December alone - three times the number ornithologists would expect. | |
They say the birds face extra dangers apart from the cold, including traffic and rat poison. | They say the birds face extra dangers apart from the cold, including traffic and rat poison. |
And they say if harsh winters continue the species could go into decline in the UK. | And they say if harsh winters continue the species could go into decline in the UK. |
David Ramsden, from the Devon-based Barn Owl Trust, said the poor weather the country experienced over the past two winters had affected the birds' survival rates as they were not built for cold weather. | David Ramsden, from the Devon-based Barn Owl Trust, said the poor weather the country experienced over the past two winters had affected the birds' survival rates as they were not built for cold weather. |
"Barn owls evolved in a much warmer climate than we have in the British Isles. | "Barn owls evolved in a much warmer climate than we have in the British Isles. |
"They need to be light so they can hunt from the air - other owls can just walk about and pick up earth worms. | "They need to be light so they can hunt from the air - other owls can just walk about and pick up earth worms. |
"So they don't have an ability to store a lot of fat, and they're not very well insulated." | "So they don't have an ability to store a lot of fat, and they're not very well insulated." |
Conservation | Conservation |
In the UK many different kinds of birds have rings attached by experts so conservationists can estimate how many there are, and where they live. | In the UK many different kinds of birds have rings attached by experts so conservationists can estimate how many there are, and where they live. |
In the December of last year 104 ringed barn owls were found dead in different parts of the country - indicating the mortality rate was running at three times what it would usually be at that time of the year. | In the December of last year 104 ringed barn owls were found dead in different parts of the country - indicating the mortality rate was running at three times what it would usually be at that time of the year. |
"If they only had to deal with severe winters they would cope very well," said Mr Ramsden. "But there are so many other factors working against them." | "If they only had to deal with severe winters they would cope very well," said Mr Ramsden. "But there are so many other factors working against them." |
A quarter of the hatchlings die on the roads. | A quarter of the hatchlings die on the roads. |
And the experts think rat poison could be a factor in low survival rates. A recent analysis of dead barn owls revealed that more than 80% had blood-thinning agents in their bloodstreams. | And the experts think rat poison could be a factor in low survival rates. A recent analysis of dead barn owls revealed that more than 80% had blood-thinning agents in their bloodstreams. |
Now the charity is concerned about the possibility of spring snow which would be an extra problem for the species. | Now the charity is concerned about the possibility of spring snow which would be an extra problem for the species. |
"The numbers will be low now. We've had two harsh winters in a row and in between those we've had two of the worst breeding seasons that have ever been recorded," said Mr Ramsden. | "The numbers will be low now. We've had two harsh winters in a row and in between those we've had two of the worst breeding seasons that have ever been recorded," said Mr Ramsden. |
The average brood size last year was below average, with breeding pairs producing two rather than three chicks. | The average brood size last year was below average, with breeding pairs producing two rather than three chicks. |
The charity is hoping for a run of good breeding seasons with nests containing more than three birds and some some mild winters to return to the UK normal population of about 4,000 breeding pairs. | The charity is hoping for a run of good breeding seasons with nests containing more than three birds and some some mild winters to return to the UK normal population of about 4,000 breeding pairs. |
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