Wildlife campaigners on Teesside are celebrating a successful year for the barn owl population, with volunteers ringing 541 owlets. This figure more than doubles the 270 chicks ringed in 2025.
The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust's project aims to boost barn owl numbers, which have been in decline due to habitat loss. The initiative involves installing nest boxes sponsored by the public.
Colin Gibson, lead volunteer for the project, stated that the 2026 breeding season "exceeded all expectations". He attributed the success to a mild winter, a dry summer, and the specially-designed boxes. Mr Gibson also noted that birds reached breeding condition earlier and there were larger clutch and brood sizes, with an average of 3.7 birds per brood this year, up from the long-term average of 3.0.