Wednesday 5th May 2021 – Somerset Wildlife Trust is delighted to announce that the first two eggs laid by Finn and Orla, stars of the Trust’s barn owl livestream, have now hatched, with two more due in the coming week.
The first egg hatched over the bank holiday weekend, on the morning of Sunday 2nd May, with the second egg hatching just days later, on the morning of Tuesday 4th May.
The barn owl couple set up home in January in a barn owl box in the Blackdown Hills for the second year in a row, having successfully fledged three chicks last year. The Trust is keeping their fingers crossed for another successful brood this year – and you can watch the family action unfold live via their livestream! Keep your eyes peeled to see the next little owlets hatch soon.
The livestream is the Trust’s first since 2014, when their barn owl couple, Boris and Brenda, became instant internet sensations, attracting over a million and a half visits from people all over the world who tuned in to see seven eggs hatch - an unusually large brood.
Kirby Everett, Head of Communications comments, “We’re really thrilled that the first two eggs have hatched successfully. It’s a real privilege to have such an insight into barn owl family life. For people that aren’t able to get out to a nature reserve or green space to see wildlife, viewing a livestream is a connection to nature they might otherwise not make, and for others it reinforces the fact that we have an incredibly variety of wonderful wildlife in Somerset. But it’s really important to highlight that nature is under great threat, and unless we look after the homes and habitats of species such as barn owls, there is a risk that we will continue to lose precious wildlife across the county for good. It’s important that we make more space for nature - and there’s lots of ideas of how to do that on our website, so be inspired and see what you can do today!’
The live stream is available at www.somersetwildlife.org/swtbarnowls
Notes to editors:
About Somerset Wildlife Trust – www.somersetwildlife.org
Somerset’s wildlife is part of what makes living, working and visiting the county so special. Somerset Wildlife Trust has been protecting vulnerable wildlife and preserving Somerset’s wild places for over 50 years and, with over 19,000 members, is the largest conservation charity in the county. Alongside our members and volunteers we work year round to protect wildlife, transform landscapes and put nature back into people’s lives.
Our reserves holding of over 1700 hectares incorporates a diverse range of habitats from wetlands to woodlands, grasslands and meadows, and provide secure environments for a diverse range of wildlife such as Dormice, Otters, Hedgehogs, Barn Owls and many other species - as well as providing safe havens for some of Somerset’s most iconic species such as Bittern and Large Blue butterfly. These habitats also connect green spaces across the county so wildlife can travel, and are the bedrock upon which we are able to deliver key conservation programmes across the year.
The majority of our work is made possible through the support of our members and people who live and work in the county who choose to make donations, fundraise for us or leave generous legacies. By working together with our members and supporters we really can make a difference.
