Record year for barn owls takes an unexpected turn: rescue mission in farm barn

Barn owls in Haarlemmermeer are experiencing a remarkably successful breeding year, with experts Bert-Jan Bol and Roel Draijer counting record-breaking numbers of offspring. Thanks to an abundant supply of mice, nests containing seven or more owlets have become common, with some even reaching nine individuals. The volunteers have already recorded 26 broods, matching the 2019 record, and expect to find more before the season concludes. Additionally, the high food availability has encouraged many owls to initiate a second round of breeding.

The recent success follows decades of persistent efforts by Bol and Draijer, who began installing nest boxes in 1989. After several years of disappointment and empty boxes, the population began to recover in the mid-1990s. While experts warn that habitat loss due to development remains a concern and that eighty percent of young owls do not survive their first year, the current population growth remains a significant conservation milestone for the region.