Somerset Barn Owls shoot to online fame

Visitors to our holiday parks in Somerset will be familiar with the variety of wildlife on offer in the county. With Exmoor on its doorstep, the area around our caravan park in Somerset is alive with interesting species for animal enthusiasts to experience in the wild.

But Somerset's newest family – Boris, Brenda, Bard, Barnie and Beakie – have found fame online!

The family of Barn Owls have become the latest reality stars thanks to live webcam footage from their nesting box. Over 120,000 people, from countries as far as Japan, Brazil and Australia have logged in this month to watch the fluffy cuties nesting.

Boris and Brenda's 3 owlets have been named by the dedicated website bloggers. Bard hatched April 23^rd and was named in honour of William Shakespeare's birthday, Barnie followed on April 26^th and the latest, Beakie hatched on the 28^th. As an avid reality TV follower, I'll be glued to the webcam now hoping to get a glimpse of the remaining 4 eggs hatching.

The nest box is one of 335 being put up near Sandy Glade Holiday Park to increase the numbers of breeding barn owls. The Somerset Community Barn Owl Project is being run by Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Hawk and Owl Trust.

Beth Jerrett, of the Somerset Wildlife Trust, said: “Barn owls survive and thrive in areas of rough grassland that can sustain good numbers of field voles and other small mammals for them to feed on.”

“We're asking people to support their recovery by giving to our 'Love Somerset, Love Meadows' appeal to increase the amount of grassland and meadow habitat in the county.”