The plan for our feathered friends
Nature-friendly farming is getting a major check-up in Purbeck. For the first time ever, barn owl chicks are being ringed in the area as part of a new partnership between the National Trust, Birds of Poole Harbour, and Carey Ringing Station.
The team successfully ringed 15 chicks and one adult across three different farmland sites. The goal? To figure out if the land management practices local farmers are using—like keeping grass longer, maintaining hedgerows, and leaving patches of scrub—is actually helping these birds thrive.
Why ringing matters
According to Kate Fox, a licensed bird ringer and ornithologist from the Carey Ringing Station, ringing is the only way to get real, actionable data. Because barn owls look so similar, it’s lowkey impossible to tell individual birds apart just by looking at them. Without the rings, researchers wouldn't know if a nest was being used by a new pair or birds they’d seen before.
Mark Singleton, the National Trust’s countryside manager, noted that while barn owl numbers have dropped a lot over the last century, things are looking up locally. The project plans to run annually, with hopes to add more nest boxes next year. By following these birds over time, the team can see if their conservation work is actually a W or if they need to switch up their methods.
All of this is being done under a special license, following strict rules from the British Trust for Ornithology. Since barn owls are a protected "Schedule 1" species, disturbing them during breeding season is a major no-go without official permission.
Why it matters
Barn owls rely on a healthy population of voles and other small mammals to survive. By creating habitats that support that food chain, farmers are trying to restore the local ecosystem. This project essentially serves as a scientific feedback loop to ensure these conservation efforts are actually working, not just looking good on paper.
