'Famous' owl couple returns to nest for third year

Conservationists are celebrating after two barn owls have returned for a third year to their nest box.

Barn owls Finn and Trude are being monitored by the Somerset Wildlife Trust on the Blackdown Hills.

People can watch the owls online through a live webcam set up by the trust.

Kirby Everett from the trust said: "Some people don't have access to green space or they can't see birds out of their windows and I think webcams are brilliant things to make nature accessible."

Ms Everett added that watching the owls was like "watching a soap opera".

According to the RSPB, barn owl populations have declined in the UK throughout the 20th century, most likely due to pesticide use.

The webcam allows the trust to keep an eye on the owl's behaviour and when chicks fledge, they can be ringed to collect data about the population in Somerset.

"Barn owls had a really good year last year which is brilliant news," Ms Everett said.

"Having that data is really important.

"Touching wood they lay eggs and if they're successful we will be ringing them also.

"On average they fledge about four. We'll see what happens."

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