British barn owls 'depend on humans'

[Still Waters]

Three-quarters of British barn owls now live in man-made nest boxes, according to conservationists.

Nest box installation schemes have helped boost the barn owl population. But in Britain the birds are now largely reliant on such measures.

According to the Cumbria-based World Owl Trust, people are now barn owls' custodians.

Without continued conservation effort, the organisation says, the once common birds could become a rare sight.

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[Funky Poacher]

And the World Owl Trust, which runs a small wildlife hospital, estimates that half of the barn owls born in Britain are hit by cars during their first year.

Holy crap. That's insane. I realize it's just an estimate, but jeez. That's a lot of owls.

But the reliance on nest boxes is now so great, the birds will need constant conservation

And this is such a pity, but we have to do what we have to do. Afterall, why is their hunting territory depleting?