Barn Owl TV

Reality TV – you either love it or loathe it. Well, whether you are bored of Big Brother or already missing the thrills of the BBC’s SpringWatch, the RSPB at Pulborough Brooks nature reserve in West Sussex, can offer you a fly-on-the-wall TV experience you won’t want to miss.

Barn owls are back and nesting in a specially placed nestbox in the reserve’s Visitor Centre. A camera installed in the nestbox is now showing live pictures of the growing family throughout the day so that visitors can get a special insight into the lives of these beautiful birds.

There are currently two owlets in the nestbox – sleeping, preening and exercising in preparation for adulthood in and around the Arun Valley, while their mother quietly dozes through the warm afternoons, before going out in the evenings to hunt for small mammals.

Peter Hughes, RSPB warden said: “We believe that the first owlet was born in early June, whilst the second hatched a few days later. They are expected to stay in the nest for 7-8 weeks, though they may use the visitor centre to roost in for a month or so after they have fledged. Potentially, visitors to Pulborough Brooks could be seeing barn owls until the end of August.” Peter continued: “Barn owls have been associated with this area for a long time. However, last year we did not have any successful nesting pairs, and we were concerned that the harsh winter would have affected the populations of small mammals, such as field voles, which make up barn owls’ prey.

“The news that they are back this year, and have bred successfully, has certainly been met with excitement by everyone.”

It will be around two months until the chicks are ready to fly the nest, but undoubtedly they will grow quickly, providing much entertainment, as with the ups and downs of any great reality TV show; and visitors are welcome to come down, view the television, and follow the progress of this family as they grow.

The live footage of the barn owl’s nestbox can be viewed throughout the day whilst the visitor centre is open (9.30 am – 5 pm).

For further information about RSPB Pulborough Brooks (located off the A283 between Pulborough and Storrington) and its barn owls, please call the reserve on 01798 875851 or email pulborough.brooks@rspb.org.uk.

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