Guernsey’s Barn Owl Survey has been a bumpy ride so far. The first two years were sabotaged by covid. We were able to do the desk work but couldn’t get out into the field. This spring, we were all set to go, after La Société’s Bird Section bought three trail cams. They have been put in a smart kit box with extra batteries and memory card, programmed and ready to go. The first one went up earlier in the month for four days.
The owner has heard Barn Owls, but wanted to know if they were using this box. It is well placed (one of vic Froome’s) high up in a tree with the entrance clearly visible and it looks out over a grassy valley. Perfect. There are several boxes on the property and Barn Owls have been present for quite a few years. We put up the recorder on a handy tree stake, but results were very mixed. (I discounted the first week when the swaying branches of the tree set the camera off and soon filled the memory card.)
At the second attempt, the branches were tied back and the camera was set to run from sunset to sunrise. Results? One recording showed a crow flying past and there were recordings set off by trees swaying in the wind behind the box. One day nothing was recorded (What????) and on other days there were ‘blank’ recordings – total darkness. This is well beyond my technical knowledge, but I am trying to work out if it’s the camera or the memory card. Field work is not always straightforward – ask Liz Sweet and the kleptomaniac vole! I thought after being up for a couple of nights we would have some great footage of Barn Owls. We are quite a way from that happening.
At present, the hedgehog in my garden is stealing the limelight. He has four trail cams recording his nightly visits, showing him eating, drinking and seeing off another hog. He has shared his appearances with a wood mouse. So far, I am no closer to solving the problem although I think it may be to do with the infra-red switch or the memory card formatting. Please note that the trail cams are the same model as my own because ‘I know it’s reliable and I know how to set it up!’ Famous last words.
I trust that this will be resolved and the trail cams will be out and about round the island soon and we get footage of some of our Barn Owls. to find out more about the survey, Liz Sweet has created some infographics at https://www.biologicalrecordscentre.gov.gg/our-projects/barn-owl/
There is also a page on La Societe’s website: https://societe.org.gg/wp/guernsey-barn-owl-survey/
The beautiful featured image at the top is by Dave Carré, who will be giving an illustrated talk at La Societe’s AGM later this year.
Natural history of the Bailiwick of Guernsey 