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Update On The Sponsored Walk 2011

Sponsored by Finger prints

We would just like to update everyone on the 2011 Sponsored Walk which this year took place in Spain. Firstly thanks must go to everyone who has contributed with donations. This has proved a record year for donations to the walk with a wide variety of people, young and old donating from a few precious pennies saved from pocket money up to one donation of hundreds of pounds. Every single one counts so thank you to each and every person who made the time and effort to contribute.

We set a seemingly ridiculous target of raising £5000 during the year, and the great news is that we have already passed £4000 in money raised which is a fantastic achievement and far exceeds all previous records. We still have a way to go so if anybody has not yet donated who wishes to please contact the office so we can push on towards that £5000 figure which would be amazing. There was a clearly stated purpose to raising this money, this was in line with the Trusts Save an Owl for a Pound campaign to help provide nest box homes for Barn Owls in the UK. This is important as over 70% now live in man made boxes.

Barn Own on a nest-box

Now we have reached the point where we must consider where best to erect these new boxes. It is important that we identify the correct locations for these new boxes as a home for the Barn Owls is just one part of the conservation equation, habitat and food supply being other vital components.

Tony Warburton MBE, Honorary President of the World Owl Trust, Tony explains “There has been an on-going decline in traditional rough grassland areas that support the Field Vole populations which form the Barn Owls’ main prey species. This means there are no longer adequate food supplies within easy reach of many nest sites, and because of the continual loss of contiguous territories and the isolation of those which do still exist; there are few viable new areas for young owls to move into once they leave their nests”.

“Many Barn Owls are now trying to survive in what amount to ‘habitat islands’ in a food desert with no connectivity with other pairs. This inevitably leads to inbreeding, a key factor in the ‘slippery slope to extinction’”.

“On any journey by foot, bike, car or train look to see how much uncultivated, ungrazed, unmown rough grassland you can spot. You will be in for a shock because it has virtually all gone! To increase a population of any species, productivity needs to exceed mortality, and with the Barn Owl this aspect is getting worse, not better.”

“Most conservation initiatives for the species to date have been centred on nest box provision to counteract the loss of natural nest sites. The result is that most Barn Owls now nest in man-made boxes rather than natural sites such as hollow trees and old stone buildings.”

“However, restoring good hunting habitat is essential before any nest box scheme should be contemplated, for even a million nest boxes cannot save Barn Owls if there is no food available to them”.

If you believe you can help us in placing new boxes in areas of suitable habitat why not contact our Conservation Officer so that we can evaluate whether the location is suitable to sustain Barn Owls and hopefully subsequent breeding.

Barn Own on a nest-box

For those of you who have donated so generously to this campaign we will be posting regular updates to keep you informed of how your donations have been spent.

Once again many thanks for your help and keep the funds coming.

Andy Chafe

To donate ring Jen Redhead on 01229 717393 or post a donation to:
World Owl Trust
Muncaster Castle
Ravenglass
Cumbria. CA18 1RQ.

WORLD OWL TRUST
The Owl Centre
Muncaster Castle
Ravenglass
Cumbria. CA18 1RQ
United Kingdom

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Telephone: (+44) (0)1229 717393
FAX: (+44) (0)1229 717107

World Owl Trust Registered Charity Number: 1107529 Limited Company Number: 5296745

The World Owl Trust is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). The Trust relies on a dedicated membership, visitors, donations and legacies.