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Barn owls: Northern Ireland sees increase in chicks

There has been a big increase in the number of barn owl chicks born in Northern Ireland.

Ulster Wildlife said 24 barn owl chicks were born in 2022 from eight breeding pairs - that is six times the number of chicks born in 2021.

The barn owl is one of Northern Ireland's rarest birds and is red-listed on the Irish Birds of Conservation Concern and protected under the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985.

Read more: Threatened barn owl population on the rise in NI

1 March 2023

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