The eighth Kerry Barn Owl to be found on Tralee bypass since August 2013. Photo by Micheal O’Clery.
ANOTHER endangered Kerry barn owl was found dead on the Tralee bypass on Monday, which brings the number of owls recorded killed on the road to three in three weeks.
A known total of eight owls have been killed on the Tralee bypass since August 2013 including two on the one day midway through last month.
Four of the barn owls were found during weekly survey visits since August 2014 including two on the same day mid way through last month.
The other four deaths have been reported by members of the public.
A spokesperson from Birdwatch Ireland says “close links with interested people who travel the route frequently has been most important in determining the extent of the road deaths”.
The almost pure white tail of the latest owl to be found dead on the Tralee bbypass shows it to be a male. Photo by Micheal O’Clery.
Birdwatch Ireland have been conducting a survey on the Tralee Bypass since last August, after three barn owls and a long-eared owl were found dead along the 14km route shortly after the road opened.
Barn owls are particularly vulnerable to collisions with vehicles on wide, fast roads.
Though central Kerry is a stronghold of the species, the eight barn owl deaths that are known about, along this short stretch of road, may be impacting on the local population.
Birdwatch Ireland are trying to find out if this is the case through the survey and monitoring work funded by Kerry County Council and the NRA.
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