Protecting Barn Owls: How Community Plays An Active Role In The Netherlands

Background On Barn Owls

Barn owls are a keystone species due to their role in controlling rodent populations thus increasing biodiversity and acting as an indicator species. Due to its efficiency in hunting the barn owl's presence is vital for a balanced ecosystem and its presence symbolizes a sustainable future. The Netherlands is home to two subspecies of Barn Owls: Tyto alba guttata and Tyto alba alba. The Tyto alba guttata is the darker color of the two, distinguished by its deep orange underside, as opposed to the white chest characteristic of Tyto alba alba.

Barn Owls In The Netherlands

Both subspecies are currently facing significant challenges, including habitat loss due to a lack of nesting sites, collisions with vehicles along highways, poaching for the pet trade, climate change decreasing chick survival rates, and persecution by misinformed farmers and hunters who see the owls as a threat to their livestock or game stock.

Consequently, the Ministry of Agriculture in the Netherlands has classified them as a red-alert species. In response, additional measures have been implemented to ensure the survival of these birds.

Example of an almost pure Tyto Alba Alba

Example of Tyto Alba Guttata

Barn Owl Conservation Groups

This is where the Dutch Barn Owl Foundation, known as the Stichting Kerkuilen Werkgroep Nederland (SKWN), plays a crucial role. The SKWN is dedicated to conserving barn owls, engaging in activities such as installing nest boxes, educating the public, and collecting data to monitor the population's health and size. To carry out these efforts, the foundation relies on a team of experienced volunteers who assist in nest box installation, any necessary maintenance, owl ringing, and data collection. The SKWN also publishes an annual newsletter that provides updates on barn owl breeding success, along with background information and conservation insights.

In addition to this, the SKWN supports other volunteer groups such as the vogelwerkgroep t’ hökske, another volunteer agency that started the barn owl conservation project in 1985.

The People Behind The Story

I have been photographing for 5 years starting in 2019. Through this journey, I have developed my skills as a photographer and begun networking with many different people/nature agencies. This year I had the privilege of joining Ralf Bovee and Koen Bovee for checkups on a round of barn owl nest boxes.

Koen is Ralf’s son and is an avid naturalist studying with me at Radboud University, he has been handling owls since he was 6 years old and has become a professional in barn owl conservation.

Ralf Bovee is part of the vogelwerkgroep t’ hökske and writes articles for the SKWN in their annual newsletter where my photos will be featured in the 2025 edition. He has been checking owl boxes since he was a boy and has a lot of experience with birds of prey. He is also an avid nature activist believing in people working with nature instead of against it. Throughout our visit to three different owl boxes, we handled a total of five barn owl chicks.

The Experience

During these checkups, we measured the chicks' wingspans, collected pellets, took photographs, and conducted health assessments. I was able to observe many different growth stages that the barn owl experienced and learned the difference between the two barn owl subspecies.

It was an eye-opening experience to witness the collective effort of so many individuals working together to preserve Dutch wildlife. Various community members volunteered to install nest boxes in their homes, barns, and churches, all showing genuine enthusiasm for the project. Ralf Bovee made a point of including them in the checkup process, fostering a sense of connection and involvement.

6-7 week old barn owl chick

Tyto Alba Guttata sub adult

The Message

Like Koen and Ralf, I believe in the importance of engaging the general public in conservation activities. Many conservationists emphasize that the key to fostering care for a species is to create opportunities for people to connect with the animals firsthand through education and personal involvement. By doing so, individuals develop a personal stake in the outcome, which strengthens their commitment to conservation efforts.

Ralf also highlighted to me the importance of us living with nature and allowing it to thrive where it can in our new urban environments. Barn owls are notorious for living in barns and churches and the Dutch name for the barn owl translates to church owl.

Some of the main complaints with barn owls inhabiting human settlements are their ‘messy’ behavior as the growing chicks often pellet and leave feces on the floor as well as their vocal habits. Barn owl vocalizations aren't the typical hoots that we usually think of when imagining owl calls. I would describe it more like a shrill screech or a squeal if alarmed and more hissing snoring nasal hi-wit from their nests. To combat these two problems the invention of owl boxes has been applied by many conservationists which helps compartmentalize the owls into a more manageable space where they minimize the mess and vocalizations that can be heard. Thus if you have a large property with an available barn maybe consider hosting a family of barn owls to help increase their numbers. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the conservation of barn owls in the Netherlands relies heavily on community involvement and education. Initiatives led by organizations like SKWN, in collaboration with dedicated volunteers and groups such as vogelwerkgroep t’ hökske, are essential in preserving these keystone birds.

The installation of nest boxes, public outreach, and ongoing data collection all contribute to a growing awareness of the barn owl’s ecological importance and the challenges they face. By fostering personal connections between people and wildlife, conservation efforts can inspire a collective responsibility to protect these species.

Hosting barn owls on private properties is one simple but impactful way individuals can contribute to the recovery of their population. Together, through small but significant actions, we can ensure that these special birds continue to thrive alongside us, maintaining the balance between nature and human development.