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As predicted earlier in the year, it's an exceptional year for Lincolnshire's birds of prey, due to high numbers of both field voles and wood mice that have peaked this year. Generally, owls were unaffected by the harsh weather in November 2010, and have taken advantage of the good rodent numbers. Bob Sheppard and I have already ringed over a thousand raptors and owls in 2011 and should ring a few hundred more Barn Owls yet.
Kestrels have generally fledged four or five young per nest. Tawny Owls have averaged 2.5 per brood. Even Little Owls that normally suffer in dry conditions when they do not have a ready supply of earthworms, have also been feeding on mice and voles and have averaged 3.1 per brood.
Barn Owls have been averaging 2.9 per brood, and as many have nested early this year, we expect around 30% to have subsequent second broods. I'll post more information on the ringing section shortly.
You would not want to be a vole in Lincolnshire this year !!
Alan
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