Peterborough farm’s delight after six white owlets found nesting

Dudhill, who works for the Wildlife Conservation Partnership, external, said 2026 had been a much stronger breeding year for barn owls.

“I have ringed quite a few groups of five and four owlets this year. But this is the first brood of six I have found,” he added.

“Over the last couple of years, we have seen a decline in the number of babies but not adult barn owls.

“Last year we found a lot of adults in boxes but they did not breed. This is all related to food. If there isn’t enough food around, then they don’t breed.

“This year has been completely different. I personally found barn owl numbers have increased dramatically. But there are still some areas in Cambridgeshire that have not found as many babies as I have,” he said.

Despite monitoring barn owls for 15 years, Dudhill said the experience “never gets boring”.

“When you open a box, you have one or two or three little faces looking at you. It’s just as exciting now as the first time I opened a box,” he added.

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