Our Work
The Trust's work - care and rehabilitation
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Rehabilitation of Barn Owls at Waterleat was being carried out long before the Trust became a registered charity in 1988. It started as a passion of the Trust's founders, which grew and eventually formed the Barn Owl Trust as we know it today.
Over the years the Trust has gained a wealth of knowledge regarding the rehabilitation and release of Barn Owls and this has helped us successfully develop and implement sound methods. Innovations have included the invention of an aviary on wheels! 1997 was the official "launch" of the top-opening mobile release aviary, a pioneering release aid that had been used over forty times by 2006.
History of the Barn Owl Trust
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The Trust's work - live bird emergency calls
Our sanctuary - a place of peaceful retreat
Pictures of owl casualties in our care
Pictures of the mobile aviary and other releases
Rehabilitation Report
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This combines the advantages of releasing birds from a top-opening aviary with the benefits of releasing them very close to where they were found. Over the years, every bird released by the Barn Owl Trust has been ringed with a British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) ring. This means we can compare the survival of released birds with the survival of wild birds generally.
Watch our three minute video
Rings and Ringing
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Pictures of owl ringing and BTO rings
Pictures of owl casualties in our care
Talks to general-interest adult groups
One-off specialist presentations
Barn Owls are highly susceptible to modern-day living - major roads, overhead wires, and intensive farming methods are just three of the many things that produce owl casualties and cases of starvation. These factors, coupled with young falling from the nest and prolonged periods of bad weather all contribute to declining numbers of Barn Owls and the need for on-going support.
The Trust has established its own directory of people around the country who are involved in owl rehabilitation and now receives calls from across the UK and even from abroad.
Reasons for the historical decline
Barn Owls and Major Roads
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Pictures of hazards facing Barn Owls
Enquiry service
Pictures showing the creation of our Owl Hospital
Because conservation is the main part of our work, we haven't as yet produced many leaflets on the subject of owl welfare. As a consequence most of the advice we provide in relation to casualties and rehabilitation is given over the telephone. In time we hope to produce more information leaflets on owl care and rehabilitation. Our first two leaflets ‘What to do if you find a young Tawny Owl', and ‘What to do if you find a young Barn Owl' were mailed out to rehabilitators across the UK and were extremely well received.
We have recently published a 'Rehabilitation Report' which presents figures on the number of bird casualties received by the Barn Owl Trust and what happened to them up to the point of release. Background information and a brief outline of the rehabilitation process are also included so as to provide the reader with an understanding of the Trust's involvement in this type of work. However, the aim of the report is not to provide detailed guidance with regard to dealing with casualties or the selection/operation of the most appropriate release method.
What to do if you find a young Barn Owl
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What to do if you find a young Tawny Owl
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Rehabilitation Report
We'd be delighted to receive a donation for it too!
If your main owl-interest is in welfare, rescue, first aid, care, rehabilitation, or release, please help us to develop this area of our work by supporting the Barn Owl Trust.
Become a Friend of the Barn Owl Trust
Become an Owlet!
Giving a donation
Leaving a legacy
Adopt a Barn Owl
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