Barn owls and the BBC

Today I was up in the Staffordshire Moorlands near the Roaches to film a news piece with BBC Midlands Today and the Barn Owl Action Group (BOAG) from Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.  The piece was focussing on the dramatic decline in numbers over the last 12 months following the harsh cold winter of 2013.  To date BOAG have had just 15 reports of barn owls in 2014.

To report a barn owl sighting, visit the Trust website - http://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/node/6378

In 2012 BOAG had their best ever year with 54 pairs breeding in their nest boxes.  Just a year later, 2013, saw their worst ever year with just 15 pairs.  Whilst filming we saw a hobby, a raven and heard a cuckoo.  On my way home I called in at the Roaches and the Peregrine Watch point to see the birds.  We presume the chicks have hatched, but its difficult to see the nest site so we haven't managed to see them just yet.