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Sunday 12 July 2015

Ireland's oldest wild Barn Owl discovered in Kerry

The oldest wild Barn Owl ever recorded in Ireland was discovered yesterday, during ringing at a nest site near Castleisland. 

John Lusby, Raptor Officer for BirdWatch Ireland, re-trapped this male Barn Owl and discovered the bird was ringed - by him - as a nestling in July 2007, at a nest just outside Tralee, about 13km away. 

At seven years of age, this makes it the longest lived wild Irish Barn Owl yet discovered in Ireland.

Seven year-old male Barn Owl, near Castleisland, Co. Kerry, 11th July 2015 (M.O'Clery under licence from NPWS).

More info on this can be seen on the Irish Raptor Blog HERE

See also this post HERE about how long wild Barn Owls can live.