A significant discovery was made at Eastfield Farm in Hough on Hill, Lincolnshire, with the sighting of the oldest barn owl ever recorded in Britain and Ireland. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) identified the owl, which is 18-years-old, during their annual survey. The owl’s age surpassed the previous record of 15 years and seven months. Remarkably, this female owl, which was initially ringed as a chick in Nottinghamshire, was also found raising a six-week-old chick, signalling a promising future for the species.
Alan Ball, an expert in barn owls who has been ringing these birds within Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire for the BTO for four decades, was overjoyed by the find. During an ordinary visit to Eastfield Farm in June, Ball spotted something unique about one of the female adult owls. He said, “I recognised the first few letters on its ring and remembered recording this owl some time ago. When we discovered it on 25 June 2025, I realised it was 18 years old, making it the oldest known barn owl. It’s extraordinary for a barn owl to be alive and breeding at that age, and it’s a fantastic sign for their future.”
Ben Lord, who manages the owls at Eastfield Farm, explained the significance of this discovery to them. He stated, “My grandfather dedicated much time to observing the owls and keeping up their boxes, which he built himself. It’s fantastic that our small farm in Lincolnshire is the location of such a fantastic find – it genuinely puts us on the map.”
Barn owls usually live for about four years, with many perishing due to food shortages and harsh winter weather. However, conservation efforts and milder winters have contributed to increasing these birds’ survival rates. Daniel Whitelegg, an assistant conservationist at the Barn Owl Trust, highlighted the critical role of volunteer efforts in achieving this milestone. He said, “The work of volunteers is essential, and we aspire to see more barn owls reaching these ages in the future.”
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
