WIRRAL
BIODIVERSITY
ACTION PLAN
ACTION PLAN
|
WIRRAL
BIODIVERSITY
ACTION PLAN |
| Current Status | Current Factors causing loss or decline | Current Action | Key habitats | Objectives and Targets |
| Proposed Actions | Resources | Links to other Action Plans | Contact Points | References |
1.1 National
1.1.1 The Barn Owl has experienced a decline in its population in England and Wales of an average of 69% between 1932 (Blaker) and 1985 (Shawyer 1987). The county of Cheshire showed a decline of 85%. The most recent estimate of the national population is 3750 pairs in England and Wales with a further 650 pairs in Scotland.
1.1.2 Included in the special category of 'Species of Special Concern' in the book, 'Red Data Birds in Britain' published to meet the requirement of
the 1979 European Community Birds Directive. Amber listed in Birds of Conservation in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
1.2 Local
1.2.1 Griffiths & Wilson found Barn Owls to be sparingly if widely distributed in north Wirral into the 1940s. By the 1960s, Bell considered them to be thinly spread across the county of Cheshire (then including Wirral).
1.2.2 In 1985 there was estimated to be 33 breeding pairs in Cheshire (including Wirral). In 2000 only 19 breeding pairs were confirmed in the same area.
1.2.3 Only 3 pairs are known to have bred in Wirral during 2001, producing a total of 10 young.
1.3 Legal
1.3.1 The Barn Owl is specially protected under Schedules 1 and 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, 1981, as amended by the Countryside Rights of Way Act, 2000.
2. CURRENT
FACTORS CAUSING LOSS OR DECLINE
2.1 National
2.1.1 Climatic changes: in Britain the Barn Owl is on the extreme northern fringe of its world breeding climate and is highly sensitive to even small changes in climate. Lying snow or prolonged rainfall dramatically affects ability to feed.
2.1.2 Loss of winter food since the onset of modern mechanical harvesting and ultra-hygienic grain storage from the 1940s affected small rodent
populations on farms.2.1.3 Loss of summer feeding habitat: the drive to maximise production and efficiency in agriculture, aided by dramatic advances in mechanisation has increased field sizes and reduced rough grassland, wetland and ditches.
Since the 1940s there has been a 40% loss of rough grazing and 95% loss of hay meadows, together with loss of field margins along hedgerow and woodland edge. The overall effect has been to seriously reduce suitable habitat for small mammals and thus Barn Owls.2.1.4 Loss of habitat continuity: remnant isolated populations have become separated by wide expanses of hostile land, so that dispersal of young birds from farm to farm or county to county is often impossible.
2.1.5 Loss of nest sites: loss of old hollow trees though Dutch Elm Disease and hedgerow clearance; loss of old farm buildings through neglect and conversion into dwellings; increased human disturbance.
2.1.6 Roads and traffic: urbanisation and associated road development has been responsible for the disappearance of 1,000,000 hectares of agricultural land over the last 60 years; greatest single cause of Barn Owl mortality (3000-5000 per year) caused by road collisions; severe pruning of hedgerows allows Barn Owls to fly low over roads and into the path of traffic.
2.1.7 Rodenticides: modern anti-coagulant compounds with a potency many times greater than 'warfarin' greatly increase the potential risk of secondary poisoning of birds of prey around buildings.
2.2 Local
2.2.1 Major increases in stocking density of sheep and cattle. Disappearance of whole meadows and grassland edge, especially in areas of single-enterprise farming.
2.2.2 Fields often sown with a rye grass mono-culture for grazing, with little or no margins of rough grass.
2.2.3 Spread of large housing and industrial estates onto former farmland.2.2.4 Conversion of old farm buildings or changes of use of land. Without proper site surveys and protection through planning conditions or obligations Barn Owl nesting and roosting sites may have been destroyed. Opportunities have also been missed to create new nesting and roosting sites.
2.2.5 Severe vegetation-cutting regimes on the banks of rivers, brooks and ditches; these water courses can provide excellent foraging habitat and habitat corridors.
3.1 National
3.1.1 There is currently no government action specifically for the benefit of Barn Owls. However the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (formerly known as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) is trying to help conserve the countryside through measures such as 'The England Rural Development Programme', The programme includes 'agri-environment schemes such as 'Countryside Stewardship', 'The Organic Farming Scheme' etc.
3.1.2 The work of the Hawk & Owl Trust is much respected. A habitat corridor scheme, The Farmland, Riverside and Forestry Link Initiative was devised in 1989 and co-ordinated through the Trust's project, The Barn Owl Conservation Network. The overall aim was to re-create habitat continuity by providing prey-rich corridors along which Barn Owls could feed, disperse and integrate.This scheme is achieving dramatic success in areas it has reached. The Wirral is not a target area for this scheme in the foreseeable future.
3.2 Local 
3.2.1 In 1998 Cheshire Wildlife Trust devised a local biodiversity action plan for the Barn Owl. The plan covers the county of Cheshire with the addition of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral which was part of Cheshire until local government reorganisation in 1974.
3.2.2 Wirral & Ellesmere Port Barn Owl Group (WEPBOG), set up to implement relevant parts of the BAP in Wirral area.
3.2.3 A Cheshire Barn Owl Local Biodiversity Action Plan Group was set up and invited representatives from the local groups, Hawk & Owl Trust, R.S.P.B., British Trust for Ornithology, Cheshire & Wirral Ornithological Society, Chester Zoo, Chester County Council and Wirral Borough Council, etc. to plan conservation measures.
3.2.4 Sightings and fatalities are being recorded and mapped and surveys conducted of reported breeding and roost sites, by WEPBOG .
3.2.5 Young birds are being weighed, measured and ringed by licensed members of BTO/ WEPBOG.3.2.6 Nestboxes are being installed in appropriate locations by or on behalf of WEPBOG.
5.1 Local
5.1 To maintain and enhance the present range and population.
6.1 Site safeguard
6.1.1 Ensure that all regular breeding sites are designated as Sites of Local Biological Interest in the Wirral Unitary Development Plan.(Action: WBC ECS) (Priority: High)
6.1.2 Ensure that landowners are informed of the presence of breeding Barn Owls and their protected-species status. (Action: WEPBOG WBC Planning Department) (Priority: High)
6.1.3 Ensure proper site surveys and protection through planning conditions or obligations where development of sites is proposed. (Action: WBC Planning Department) (Priority: High)
6.1.4 Provide alternative breeding and roosting sites where development is planned. (Action: Landowners) (Priority: High)
6.2 Policy
6.2.1 Promote measures, including fiscal incentives, to achieve biodiversity and enhance farmland environment for the species.
(Action: DEFRA, EN?) (Priority: High)6.2.2 Ensure that the requirements of Barn Owls are taken into consideration in the formulation of strategic nature conservation plans for the Wirral. (Action: ?
6.2.3 Use and raise awareness of Planning Policy Guidelines in relation to Barn Owls. Use the planning system: a planning condition imposed by the local authority for building conversions which may affect Barn Owls; provision of owl holes, nest boxes and/or loft. No works should take place between the months of April-September. (Action: WBC) (Priority: High)
6.2.4 Take positive action upon receipt of any allegation or suspicion of commission of criminal offences in relation to Barn Owls by formally reporting such to Merseyside Police Wildlife Liaison Officers and/or R.S.P.B. (Action: All parties) (Priority: High)
6.3 Land Management
6.3.1 Encourage retention and development of grass margins: reintroduction and maintenance of rough grass margins in fields, at edges of woodland, hedgerows and fencerows. (Action: Landowners) (Priority: High)
6.3.2 Eliminate severe vegetation-cutting regimes on the banks of rivers, brooks and ditches: introduce regime of alternate cutting of each bank over 3-year cycle. (Action: Landowners, ? ) (Priority: High)
6.4 Species protection and management
6.4.1 Provide nestboxes: erecting of nestboxes in areas where suitable habitat is available or may provide an alternative site when a traditional site is under threat from development or decay. (Action: WEPBOG) (Priority: High/Medium)
6.4.2 Provide an artificial winter food supply near roost sites during periods of severe weather January - March. (Action:WEPBOG) (Priority: Medium)
6.5 Advice
6.5.1 Advise farmers and landowners about Barn Owl status; the need for conservation; ways of creating, enhancing or protecting foraging habitat or creating habitat corridors and fiscal incentives such as Countryside Stewardship. If necessary, also stress to farmers and landowners the legal protection afforded to wild Barn Owls.
6.5.2 Draw the attention of the local authority planning department to the status of Barn Owls, the need for conservation, Planning Policy Guidelines in relation to Barn Owls and the locations of Barn Owl breeding and roost sites. (Action: WEPBOG) (Priority: High)
6.6 Future research and monitoring
6.6.1 Continue mapping all sightings to establish the current population and distribution, annually. (Action: WEPBOG) (Priority: Medium)
6.6.2 Continue to survey and map existing areas of suitable Barn Owl habitat to identify key areas for conservation effort. (Action: WEPBOG) (Priority: Medium)
6.6.3 Continue weighing, measuring and ringing of young birds. (Action: BTO/ WEPBOG) (Priority: Low)
6.6.4 Continue pellet analysis to understand the habitat preference of individual breeding pairs; dissection of pellets is also popular with school groups and wildlife groups for young people and is an opportunity to raise awareness about the threatened species. (Action: WEPBOG) (Priority: Low)6.6.5 Implement a constant-effort survey of a known breeding site with video cameras and microphones to study all aspects of breeding behaviour of local birds. (Action: University of Liverpool) (Priority: Low)
6.7 Communications and publicity
6.7.1 Submit records and Annual Report to CWT, CAWOS, EN as appropriate. (Action: WEPBOG) (Priority: Medium)
6.7.2 Distribute leaflets about Barn Owl conservation such as The Barn Owl and its Habitat (H&OT, 1993) to farmers and landowners. (Action: WEPBOG) (Priority: Medium)
6.7.3 Raise awareness of the current status of the Barn Owl and its habitat requirements by liasing with sponsors/supporters to issue Press Releases and provide photograph opportunities; giving talks illustrated with photographic slides to schools and interested groups. (Action: WEPBOG) (Priority: Low)
7.1 National
Not known
7.2 Local
7.2.1 Obtain grants from fund-holders sympathetic to Barn Owl conservation.
7.2.2 Obtain donations from members of the public, including 'Adopt-a-Box' scheme to help finance nestbox installations.
7.2.3 Nestboxes to be manufactured at cost price by The Royden Project in conjunction with local authority Social Services Department and Department of Education and Cultural Services.
7.2.4 Costs of owl holes/nestboxes/lofts during barn conversions to be met by the developer in complying with Planning Conditions.
8. LINKS TO
OTHER ACTION PLANS
8.1 National
8.1.1 Hawk & Owl Trust's habitat corridor scheme, The Farmland, Riverside and Forestry Link Initiative co-ordinated through the Trust's project, The Barn Owl Conservation Network.
8.2 Local
8.3 Conflicts
None identified.
Wirral & Ellesmere Port Barn Owl Group
P.O. Box 114
Hoylake
Wirral
CH48 8BX
email: [email protected]
Honorary Secretary: Steve Harris
Tel: 0151 625 4881Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Tel: 01270 610180
Fax: 01270 610430Malcolm Ingham
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Wildlife Officer. Telephone: 0151 648 4371.Constable Andy McWilliam
Wildlife Liaison Officer
Crosby Police Station
Telephone: 0151 777 3628