"Sacha" wrote in message
k...
On 31/8/04 2:19 pm, in article
, "BAC"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
k...
I've asked this question on the birdwatching group with no success, so
I
hope someone here might be able to answer my query:
We've had Little Owls the garden for years and are accustomed to
hearing them calling at various times of the day and then going off for
part
of the summer.
However, although they were with us this spring, they seem not to have
returned and we can't imagine why, barring accidents, of course. The
ones
we've had before have raised young successfully and there is plenty of
food
for them because we are in the middle of farming land and much of it is
organic. We don't use pesticides on the Nursery, either.
Can anyone shed any light on this or do we have to accept that we've
lost
them? Do they go away for longer periods than we're accustomed to and
then
return either still later in the year, or perhaps the following spring?

I am not an expert on little owls, but (and forgive me if this is self
evident) if their population has declined in your area recently, it is
probably in response to a change in conditions in the area, which do not
suit the birds.

snip


We're crossing our fingers because we hate to think of them disappearing
from our lives!

See www.barnowltrust.org.uk/Forms/No_32.pdf which contains information
about Little Owls, including instructions on the construction and siting of
nesting boxes suitable for them. If they have 'lost' natural nesting
opportunities in your area, providing an alternative might help. I hope you
have them back soon.