An ecology team at the Twentyshilling windfarm near Sanquhar have raced to the rescue of nesting barn owls.
A breeding pair had been nesting in an old, damaged box at the site and it was all hands on deck to give them a new, safer home for the spring.
Construction is underway on the nine 140m high turbines at the windfarm on Craigdarroch Farm, 4.5km south of Sanquhar, and it is due to become operational in November.
Barn owls are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and ecologists from environmental, planning and engineering consultancy Arcus have been monitoring those on the site for two years as part of the company’s ecological clerk of works role.
The specialist team have developed a barn owl protection plan to safeguard the nesting area so construction can continue and, working together with civil engineering and building contractor RJ McLeod, assessed the birds’ environment.
They are now delivering a plan to safeguard the habitat and they stepped up to the mark with the new nesting box.
Arcus’ consultant ecologist, James Allison, said: “Barn owls usually choose to nest in cavities in trees, or undisturbed buildings such as barns, outbuildings and ruins.
“At this site they were nesting in a very old nest box which was literally falling apart.
“RJ McLeod’s site safety manager, Chris Cork, was so inspired by watching the pair that he decided to build a new barn owl nest box using recycled materials.
“He raced against time get the box installed in time for the spring breeding season.
“This will help conserve the local population of this much-loved species.”
