Barn owls in Northern Ireland

The barn owl is one of our most iconic species but sadly one of our most endangered, with fewer than 50 breeding pairs left in Northern Ireland.

In the last few years, we have identified four active barn owl nest sites. Sadly, in 2014 and in 2018, two of those were lost – one when weather downed a tree and one due to a road traffic accident – causing our tiny barn owl population to plummet.

Without your help, barn owls face an uncertain future in Northern Ireland.

With your help we can:

     * request and record more nest locations

     * provide new homes for barn owls

     * secure existing nest sites

     * improve foraging habitat

     * up-skill volunteers to survey and monitor barn owls

With its heart-shaped face and ghostly-white appearance, the barn owl is one of our most distinctive and well-loved countryside birds. If you’ve been lucky enough to see one, it’s a sight you’ll never forget.

Ulster Wildlife has been working on barn owl conservation in Northern Ireland for 10 years. Although our 'Be There for Barn Owls' project ended in 2016, we still receive some funding from Northern Ireland Environment Agency to continue this vital work. We are committed to helping barn owls thrive and this is only made possible with funding and support from our members and donors; and of course our passionate volunteers who at the forefront of efforts to save this species.

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