ࡱ > / 1 . '` bjbjLULU . .? .? j j j j v i i i , . . . . . . $ h R r i i r r R g r : , r , `2FP j , } 0 ( D i v T 3 D w i i i R R i i i r r r r d j j The Mid Cheshire Barn Owl Conservation Group was established in 2000 to help protect and raise awareness of the plight of the barn owl in Cheshire generally and, at the time, in Vale Royal in particular. There can be no doubt that barn owls are one of this countrys most beautiful and best loved birds. But they are also one of our most endangered birds, and no more so than in Cheshire. In the mid 1930s there were a reported 250 or so pairs of barn owls in Cheshire but over the years there was a steady decline in numbers resulting in the mid 1980s in just a handful of birds remaining. This decline was credited to an increase in intensive farming [removing vital hunting habitat] together with the conversion of barns and loss of hedgerows/ trees [removing nest sites]. However, thanks to the work of a small number of volunteers and support from landowners and farmers, the decline has been halted with the number of barn owls steadily increasing [although current numbers are still barely half of those 80 years ago]. The turn around in the fortune of the barn owls in Cheshire can be pin pointed to some 15 years ago when George Bramall together with other like-minded friends set up a barn owl group in the Broxton area of the county. Based on their success, together with help from the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, the Mid Cheshire Barn Owl Conservation Group came into being. Indeed, over the eleven years of its existence, the Group has extended its operations and now manages barn owl conservation work in the South, North, North East and East of Cheshire; essentially two-thirds of the county. The Group makes and erects barn owl boxes throughout the year and monitors them for successful breeding activity [nearly 860 boxes having been erected so far]. Wherever possible the birds are ringed for future information and research and their hunting activities monitored to establish habitat requirements. All the work has been actively supported by landowners and farmers who, like many people throughout the country, want to see these birds return in numbers to our countryside. The important question, however, is whether the work of the Group is making a difference. Well, in 2000 only 5 pairs of breeding barn owls were recorded in the area. In 2011, there are already over 70 breeding pairs recorded, rearing over 200 chicks the figures speak for themselves. So why not come along to the Groups Annual Funday [to be held at the Falconry Centre at the Blakemere Centre, Sandiway, near Northwich] on Saturday 3 September 2011 between 4.30 and 6.00pm, and find out more about the Group in general, and barn owls in particular. Entry is free, as is a flying display provided by the Falconry Centre, plus barbecue and other games and information for the family. If you want to learn more about the work of the various groups in the county, log on to www.cheshirebarnowls.co.uk or contact John Mycock on 07970-235473. D b 2 r N P U Y ^ _ i j 6 ) T U V z ^ h'r hl7 h# h: hO h, h 8 5 S T q r O P 6 7 U V , 1h. A!"#$% @ @ @ N o r m a l CJ _HaJ mH sH tH D A D D e f a u l t P a r a g r a p h F o n t V i V T a b l e N o r m a l :V 4 4 l a ( k ( N o L i s t H H ^ B a l l o o n T e x t CJ OJ QJ ^J aJ S T q r O P 6 7 U V 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 @ 0 ( B S ? :P 7 ;P <: