#68 Barn Owl by Matthew Morgan
Meet Matthew Morgan, PhD researcher at the University of Hull!
Matthew is currently a PhD researcher at the University of Hull, investigating the value of urban blue spaces from ecological and social perspectives as part of the Rewild Research Cluster. His research background is mainly in island ecology and has involved working on long-term marine and terrestrial research projects across the Western Indian Ocean, but Hull is his home! Matthew is passionate about the benefits of urban biodiversity for society and a is keen naturalist, spending a lot of his spare time photographing wildlife, particularly wildlife within the urban environment. Matthew can be contacted at m.c.morgan-2021@hull.ac.uk. You can read more about the Rewild Research Cluster here.
Matthew’s chosen species is the Barn Owl Tyto alba. Barn owls are an iconic species, easily recognised by most people with their bright white underparts, golden-buff upperparts, and heart-shaped face. They favour rough grassland, woodland edges, and lowland farmland. Typically nocturnal, they can also be seen during the day, especially when they have young. The Barn Owl is considered to be the most widespread owl species in the world. In Yorkshire, they can be spotted across the countryside and urban-rural boundaries - notable locations for spotting them include, Flamborough, Bempton and Sunk Island. Population estimates for this species are scarce and outdated (the last national survey was carried out between 1995-1997), but records from the BTO suggest the population is increasing and they are currently listed as green for their UK conservation status. In Europe, however, they are still listed as a bird of Conservation Concern (see more reading from The Barn Owl Trust).
Finding urban Barn Owls in ‘Ull
Barn owl hunting over Priory Meadows (05/03/2023 18:00)
‘After a few exciting trips to Nunburnholme in winter 2023, I began to wonder if I could get equally good Barn Owl sightings closer to home in Hull’ Matthew says. ‘This information would also complement my research, giving me more ‘reason’ to spend time looking for birds!’
‘My challenge was quickly achieved at Priory Meadows (technically Cottingham, but definitely closer than Nunburnholme) when I encountered a Barn Owl flying over rough grassland hunting. I am always impressed by these birds in flight, especially when they hover over vegetation before diving in feet first. Barn Owls have asymmetrical ears, allowing them to pinpoint the origin of sounds with amazing accuracy.
I then successfully found Barn Owls over rough grasslands from Cottingham all the way to Noddle Hill following the urban border, with five locations proving to be very reliable. I really enjoy watching them fly between the narrow drainage ditches to hunt (a type of blue space), sometimes leading them in and out of the city without anyone noticing.’
A barn own hunting over rough grassland next to a new housing estate in Kingswood (27/04/2024 20:17)
Seeing this species in these peri-urban habitats, along with Kestrels, Buzzards, Roe Deer, and a plethora of other species, highlighted the importance of these spaces for wildlife, and importantly, human-nature interactions. Exploring nature ‘on the doorstep’ allowed Matthew to spend more time looking for and photographing owls, and enabled him to visit sites more frequently, improving his field craft and observation skills.
‘The Barn Owls around Hull draw me out into nature over and over again with their reliable yet elusive presence, making capturing a "good photo" possible but challenging enough to warrant a cheerful "woo" when successful! They are a great reminder that urban habitats can support trophic complexity when managed or abandoned (such as Noddle Hill) with nature in mind, giving hope for wilder urban environments. When I am looking for Barn Owls, I often bump into other nature enthusiasts, often sharing tips and spots for good views. Occasionally, they are dressed in camouflage to cause minimal disturbance (although it’s possible the owl can hear their heartbeat!). I enjoy the communal joy of observers when an owl is actively hunting, regardless of age or experience. For all these reasons and many more, I chose to write this blog about the amazing Barn Owl.’
Matthew’s research (supervised by Dr. Africa Gómez, Prof. Rodney Forster, and Dr. Charlotte Hopkins) investigates the value of urban blue spaces from ecological and social perspectives. Urban blue spaces, generally described as bodies of water within or adjacent to a built-up area, are vital for both people and nature but are less studied than green spaces. To address current knowledge gaps, the group are using Hull as a case study to better understand which species benefit from or depend on urban blue spaces. To gather ecological data, they have combined traditional surveys with modern techniques, deploying autonomous acoustic recorders and trail cameras. The results from these structured surveys will be paired with habitat maps and citizen science records (unstructured, but abundant) to gain a better understanding of urban biodiversity at a landscape scale. Alongside ecological data, the team are also conducting public surveys to assess people’s values, perceptions, and expectations of blue spaces in the context of being places for both people and nature. Matthew hopes that outputs from the PhD will provide a current and reliable assessment of the ecological and social value of urban blue spaces, useful for informing nature recovery strategies and management of water bodies within cities.
Barn owl hunting at Noddle Hill with Bransholme estate in the background
Recording and monitoring
Barn Owls are difficult to survey due to their largely nocturnal activity, which impacts the accuracy of population estimates. It is important to report any sightings to help fill data gaps. Records can be sent to NEYEDC or submitted to platforms such as iRecord. Records can also be sent to The Barn Owl Trust.
Further information and acknowledgements
NEYEDC would like to thank Matthew for his time and expertise in helping to create this blog.
