Barn Owls Move Into Pembrey Country Park

A new Barn Owl box has moved into Pembrey Country Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nestled in the woodlands, towards the west of the park, it is hoped the roost will help boost declining owl numbers.
The heart shape faced barn owls have been spotted nesting in the Corsican Pine woodlands for some time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The box, made by Burns Pet Nutrition, is one of three donated by Carmarthenshire Bird Club. Other locations in Carmarthenshire include Penclacwydd and near Llanboidy in the west of the county. Plans are also in hand to put up boxes near Llangunnor and Cross Hands. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s executive board for leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “We are doing our bit to conserve one of the most beautiful birds on earth and together with the park being a perfect location for them the box will help increase the Barn Owl population.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Barn Owls screech, not hoot. The barn owl can fly almost silently which enables it to hear the slightest sounds made by its rodent prey hidden in deep vegetation while it’s flying up to three metres overhead. Its hearing is the most sensitive of any creature tested. In order to live and breed, a pair of barn owls needs to eat around 5,000 prey items a year. These are mainly field voles, wood mice, and common shrews. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s conservation ranger, Simeon Jones said: “The park is an ideal location for Barn Owls being well away from traffic which has an adverse impact on Barn Owl populations.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​