Following the disastrous 2025 breeding season, when no chicks were found in any of the 25 nest boxes monitored by the group, this year has marked a remarkable turnaround for Sussex’s Tawny Owls.
The 2026 breeding season has delivered exceptional results. Monitors recorded and ringed:
- One brood of a single chick
- Three broods of three chicks
- Five broods of four chicks
- One rare and impressive brood of five chicks near Ashdown Forest
All chicks were successfully ringed, making this one of the most productive seasons recorded in recent years.
One youngster was found to have already reached the branching stage in early April, indicating that breeding may have begun unusually early in some areas this year, possibly reflecting favourable weather conditions and prey availability.
Tawny Owl Facts
Tawny Owls are monogamous birds that typically remain paired throughout the year. Signs of breeding activity usually begin in late winter, with egg-laying often commencing in March or April, depending on local conditions and food availability.
A typical clutch consists of two to four eggs, although clutches ranging from one to seven eggs have occasionally been recorded. The female alone incubates the eggs, a process that takes around 28–30 days, while the male provides food.
Young owls leave the nest well before they are capable of flight, entering a stage known as branching. During this period, they move onto nearby branches and trees, where they continue to be fed by their parents. Their persistent food-begging calls are often heard at dusk and during the night.
If a branching chick falls to the ground, it can usually climb back into the trees using its exceptionally sharp talons, scrambling up the trunk while flapping its developing wings for support.
Later in the year, from late summer through autumn and into early winter, young Tawny Owls begin searching for territories of their own. This is a challenging and often dangerous time, as parents drive their offspring away from their natal territory and resident owls vigorously defend established territories with calling, shrieking and hooting. Many young birds do not survive their first year as they struggle to find suitable hunting grounds and avoid conflict with established adults.
The Sussex Barn Owl 2026 breeding results will be announced soon—watch this space!
Terry Hallahan June 2026
📸 Nigel Morley