Exterior nest-boxes may negatively affect barn owl Tyto alba survival: an ecological trap

Published source details Klein A., Nagy T., Csörgő T. & Mátics R. (2007) Exterior nest-boxes may negatively affect barn owl Tyto alba survival: an ecological trap. Bird Conservation International, 17, 273-281.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Provide owl nest boxes (Tawny owl, Barn owl) Action Link
	Provide artificial nesting sites for owls Action Link

Provide owl nest boxes (Tawny owl, Barn owl)

A replicated, controlled study in Hungary in 1995-2003 (Klein et al. 2007) using ring-recapture data found that juvenile barn owls Tyto alba fledged from nest boxes were significantly less likely to be recovered alive than those reared in church towers (25% of 75 nest box-reared birds recovered alive one year after fledging vs 40% of 116 church tower-raised birds). This difference in survival was only apparent in the first year after fledging, with similar proportions being recovered six years after fledging (28% of nest box-reared birds vs 41% of church tower-raised birds).
Provide artificial nesting sites for owls

A replicated, controlled study in Hungary in 1995-2003 (Klein et al. 2007) using ring-recapture data found that juvenile barn owls Tyto alba fledged from nest boxes were significantly less likely to be recovered alive than those reared in church towers (25% of 75 nest box-reared birds recovered alive one year after fledging vs. 40% of 116 church tower-raised birds). This difference in survival was only apparent in the first year after fledging, with similar proportions being recovered six years after fledging (28% of nest box-reared birds vs. 41% of church tower-raised birds).