Clare County Council and BirdWatch Ireland project aims to bring back the Barn Owl

Clare County Council's Biodiversity office has been working in collaboration with BirdWatch Ireland, local farmers and communities to install eleven new barn owl nest boxes throughout December and January.

The initiative is part of the Return to Nature Clare Church Biodiversity Project and is called the Clare Barn Owl Nest Scheme.

In a Facebook post by Greener Clare the group described the scheme as "going from strength to strength" as the barn owl population is said to be making a comeback in the county.

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The boxes have been installed both indoors and outdoors and will bring the total number of boxes installed to over thirty.

Greener Clare said: "We found barn owls present at one of the sheds earmarked for a nest box which is a positive sign.

"It is anticipated that monitoring of the nest boxes for owlets will be carried out later in the year."

The group have thanked all local communities involved and farmers for participating in the Return to Nature Clare Church Biodiversity Project as well as Alan McCarthy and John Lusby of BirdWatch Ireland.

The project is funded by Local Biodiversity Action Fund and Clare County Council.