A PLENTIFUL supply of tasty voles made 2014 the best year in half a decade for barn owls.

Sixty per cent of the beautiful birds in Worcestershire produced second broods during the year, prompting experts at Worcester Barn Owl Conservation Group to celebrate a “very good” outlook.

The organisation however faced a downside to the extra breeding with late arrivals struggling to survive when the weather turned.

Roy Fowler, founder of the conservation group, said: “It has been a good year for the barn owl.

“We had a warm, early summer which in turn produced plentiful vegetation – ideal food for the vole, an important part of the barn owl’s diet.

“With a plentiful vole population there was something of a feast for the barn owls.

“But we had to take in a number of young birds from these late broods here in the Worcester area. The most likely reason is that as the temperatures drop, with more wet weather, the young find it difficult to find food and weaken very quickly because they haven’t had enough time to practice their skills.”

The group has looked after a number of these birds in its centre, helping them to rest, feed and become strong and healthy.

They are then returned to their natural habitats, with volunteers keeping an eye on their progress out in the wild.

“We are indebted to people for their concern and willingness to help this beautiful bird”, added Mr Fowler.

The charity has also recently acquired a trailer to help with its publicity work.

Businesses including Blackpole Recycling, The Fleece Inn, Signature and JHF Contracting and Groundworks sponsored the equipment

Mr Fowler said: “We are always looking for new ways to reach and inform the public about our work and we have great hopes that our latest acquisition will achieve this aim.

“Using the trailer enables us to travel further afield and to be able to stay overnight at various venues and functions.

“It is equipped to contain several birds in comfort and security, as well as housing all our information boards and other equipment”.