Baby Barn Owls!

(16th July 2012)

RSPB Rye Meads Nature Reserve, near Hoddesdon, is very excited to announce that we have a pair of breeding barn owls on site and they have babies! It’s the first time in the reserve’s history, over 50 years, that barn owls have bred on site!

On Monday 9 July the Rye Meads Ringing Group went out and ringed the two young! The Ringers are fully trained experts that add lightweight, uniquely numbered, metal ring around a bird’s leg (it’s like us wearing a watch) allowing us an amazing chance to see the cute fluffy bundles!

We first spotted the pair in January when they were first investigating our special owl nest box, but we never thought they would breed!

“It’s fabulous news,” says RSPB Information Officer Louise Moss, “barn owls are brilliant birds, we are so excited that they have babies! When the young have fledged they should fly around the nest area, so it should be a good chance to see these stunning birds!”

The reserve is open all year round, from 10 am until 5 pm (or dusk if earlier), and it’s free to visit!

Rye Meads is on Rye Road, between Hoddesdon and Stanstead Abbotts. Take the Hoddesdon turning from the A10 and follow the brown duck signs 2 miles to the reserve. The Visitor Centre is just 10-minutes walk from Rye House mainline train station. For information about the reserve you can visit www.rspb.org.uk/ryemeads or check our blog;

www.rspb.org.uk/community/groups/ryemeads/default.aspx.

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