Northern Ireland celebrates as bumper year for barn owls gives boost to its fragile population

Twenty-four barn owl chicks fledged from eight known breeding pairs – a 500% increase from 2021

Conservationists are celebrating a bumper year for barn owls in Northern Ireland.

Some 24 chicks fledged from eight known breeding pairs – a 500% increase in chicks from 2021 – according to Ulster Wildlife.

The figures are contained in the nature conservation charity’s 2022 barn owl report.