The barn owl, which is one of the world's largest owls, has begun to establish itself in Halland in recent years. This year they are breaking records. On the border between Halland and Småland, ornithologists know of at least ten nests, which is expected to result in at least 30 young, something that was completely unthinkable when the first barn owl was seen in Halland 20 years ago.

30 years ago, curious bird watchers had to go up to Norrland to see the large owl, where it was considered an exclusivity, but later it has been seen more and more often in southern Sweden, the explanation is not completely established but theories exist.

- There is a Norwegian owl researcher who believes that it is about climate change. That the winters have become unstable in the north, the snow melts and water flows in under the snow, which means that the condition that prevailed before, that they could live well in the snow and reproduce before the snow melted, is no longer true, says ornithologist Anders Wirdheim.

Bokollon key to success

The fact that the owl is now breaking breeding records in Halland is due to the fact that the owls have been unusually rich in food.

- Last year there was an extremely large amount of beetles out in the beech forests, this large amount of beetles has meant that there were a lot of wood mice and especially forest voles in the forests, when there are plenty of small rodents, there is plenty of food for the owls, says Anders Wirdheim.

Seeing a barn owl is something many birdwatchers dream of, so there may also be many who flock to places where they have been seen. It is important not to disturb the owls when they have just laid eggs, says Anders, because then the eggs can be left. But when the cubs are away, a lot is needed for the cubs to be left by their parents.

- It is one of these birds that is really high on the list, because it is so very very special, it is so big and it looks so strange, with its big head and yellow eyes, 20 years ago when we saw the first barn owl in Halland when people came all the way from Amsterdam.

Ornithologist Anders Wirdheim believes that there may be several nests of barn owls in Halland and western Småland and therefore welcomes the public to provide tips on just this.