A local owl has been named the “UK’s loneliest owl” after calling out several times a day looking for a mate, but getting no response.
The male, who lives on Woodoaks Farm in Maple Cross and is part of the declining little owl species, has been calling out every day since January, but sadly his calls have gone unanswered. With courting season now over, it is likely he will spend the rest of the year alone.
The little owl as a species has declined by up to 25 per cent since 1995. Woodoaks Farm is raising money to protect wildlife and is also on a mission to raise awareness about nature-friendly farming.
Soil Association’s head of Woodoaks Rose Lewis said: “This might just be the UK’s loneliest owl – it is devastating to see him all alone calling out from his perch day after day, but getting no response. It just shows how fragile his population is, which is why we are so determined to do all we can to support nature across the whole farm.”
The little owl has endured a series of heartbreaking events, after he became a single parent when his first mate got caught in a barbed wire fence and was killed. He successfully raised the owlet alone.
He then managed to win the affections of another female and have more owlets, however the owlets did not survive and the female suffered an unexplained death.
Lima Edwards, who runs L&L Wildlife Monitoring at Woodoaks Farm, said: “I’m not sure how she died. It’s really sad but there are so many things that can go wrong in nature. We were hoping we might have better luck this year and see a clutch of owlets succeed, but he has been calling every day, and no female has come. When you observe nature, you keep your distance and try not get too attached, but I am rooting for him for the next season.”
Woodoaks is looking for donations big and small to support their nature-friendly farming and education mission, which will also help with the monitoring of wildlife like the little owl through cameras and volunteers. For more information, please visit www.woodoaksfarm.com
Photo credit: Soil Association
0 Comments