SAFEGUARDING the future of the Little Owl is at the heart of a study on Salisbury Plain by a University of Reading PhD student.

Emily Joáchim is monitoring the feeding behaviour of the owls, using a camera system designed by the university’s School of Systems Engineering. These have been set up in adapted nestboxes and allow Emily to witness the secrets of owl life.

Four nestboxes are being monitored on the Plain. Footage shows how often and how much they eat, the types of food the males bring in for nesting females and, once they hatch, how the owlets thrive.

Ms Joáchim said: “We believe there could be between 5,800 and 11,600 breeding pairs across the country. Although this sounds quite a high number, the Little Owl has suffered a dramatic decline since the 1950s and has been classified a Species of European Conservation Concern.”

It is hoped to eventually have a web interface so anyone with an internet connection can see the recorded videos online.

The Little Owl was introduced to Britain from Holland in the late 1880s and today’s population originates from 18 birds released. Unlike many imported species, this owl does not upset the ecological balance.

A sample of videos of the birds can be viewed at ict.rdg.ac.uk/inthefieldrecordings