Forgotten hunters of Leitrim: New BirdWatch Ireland survey brings hope

Leitrim is one of the few counties in Ireland where very little is known about barn owls – but a new survey aims to change that.

The Barn Owl Survey, led by BirdWatch Ireland and funded by Leitrim County Council with support from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, was recently launched to learn more about where these magnificent birds might be living in the county.

John Lusby, Raptor Conservation Officer with BirdWatch Ireland, explained that barn owls have become incredibly scarce in Leitrim.

He noted that, across Ireland, barn owl populations have declined since the 1960s due to changes in landscape and agricultural practices – such as the shift from hay to silage – and because the birds are especially vulnerable to rodenticides.

Despite this, Lusby pointed out that Leitrim still offers many ideal habitats where barn owls may be nesting, and he’s encouraging members of the public to participate in the survey if they’ve seen one.

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Barn owl numbers are starting to recover in parts of the country like Munster, but remain very scarce in the northwest.

“There does seem to be an abundance of suitable nest sites. There are areas where the habitat is very suitable so we’d hope they’re out there and it’s a matter of finding them,” John said.

“We hope the situation is going in the right direction and that they’ll start to become a more common bird in the Leitrim countryside.”

Barn owls typically inhabit farmlands and derelict buildings – of which there are plenty in Leitrim.

“They tend to nest in old or derelict buildings and knowing where they're nesting allows us to better protect these sites because sometimes the buildings are prone to dilapidation,” John explained.

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“It’s not a lack of nest sites that are affecting barn owls in Leitrim. There are an abundance of suitable nest sites.”

The project relies on what Lusby calls “citizen science.” Members of the public are encouraged to report sightings, which is the essential first step in protecting the species.

“The first step is getting a better understanding of the status in particular areas and we follow that through with practical conservation measures to provide benefits for the species and secure the population,” he said.

These conservation measures include nest box installation, site visits during the breeding season, and, in some cases, the use of GPS tags, which provide detailed insights into foraging and behaviour patterns.

“We try to use all this to inform the conservation measures that are required and to deliver those on the ground,” John added.

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He also noted that the situation in Leitrim is particularly interesting due to the arrival of new prey species in the area – including the greater white-toothed shrew, the bank vole, and more recently, the field vole.

“All of these species are great for barn owls in terms of prey and this is bound to have a knock-on effect on barn owls in Leitrim.”

The response to the survey has been positive so far, but BirdWatch Ireland is encouraging more people to get involved. Lusby believes the strong interest comes from the fact that barn owls are so well-known and visually striking – a bird people are unlikely to forget if they spot one.

He recently held an information event at the Landmark Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon on May 23, where discussions focused on barn owls and their future in Leitrim.

“Everyone is eager to learn more about barn owls in the county. There’s no known nest sites in the county but there’s a strong desire to change that,” he said.

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To support barn owls in Leitrim and beyond, Lusby encouraged people to report sightings and advised farmers to review their use of rodenticides and consider alternative pest control methods, which can benefit local wildlife more broadly.

“Small measures can have a huge benefit and we’ve seen that time and time again with farmers who have put up nest boxes and stopped using rodenticides and barn owls will respond very quickly,” he added.

Anyone with information about barn owls in Leitrim is encouraged to visit the Barn Owl Survey page on the BirdWatch Ireland website or send details via email to amccarthy@birdwatchireland.ie to help revitalise the species in the region.