The Raptor Trust carries out a broad range of conservation activities for birds of prey, including habitat management. The lack of suitable habitat (as well as persecution) is one of the most pressing problems affecting birds of prey and other wildlife. So much wildlife habitat is being put under pressure by our demand for housing, roads and recreational facilities that the Trust will give active support to any effort to protect land which is threatened by development or abuse.

Not only is suitable habitat important but food supply is just as vital a factor if birds of prey are to flourish in any given area (the term birds of prey includes owls). This is why mammal trapping plays such an important role in our conservation work, not only in the surveying of potential release sites but it also helps to monitor population levels of small mammals at known hunting sites. The Raptor Trust shares its survey results with other interested conservation bodies.

As well as the preservation and creation of wildlife habitat, the provision of nest boxes can be a most effective way of encouraging the raptor population, particularly barn owls, little owls and kestrels. The Trust is actively involved in erecting such boxes and can give advice and plans to anyone wishing to install one.

All birds of prey and their nest sites are protected by law and we are very keen to learn of anyone deliberately persecuting birds or causing damage to nest sites. If you have knowledge of any such activity, please contact us and we will advise the Police Wildlife Crime Officers in the Norfolk and Suffolk areas, with whom we have strong links.

Breed-and-release schemes can be a valuable tool for the conservation of birds of prey, although the Trust believes that such schemes should be approached with caution. Many factors such as habitat, food supply and existing raptors of the same and different species within the area have to be very carefully determined before any such releases can be attempted.

Over the past few years many captive-bred barn owls have been released into the wild. Unfortunately, it was found that these released owls suffered a mortality rate of over 90%. This was particularly evident where birds were released into areas with existing barn owl populations. Before releasing captive-bred birds, it is essential that a thorough survey is carried out and a genuine conservation need identified. Since 1 January, 1993, it has been an offence to release captive-bred barn owls without a license from the Department of The Environment, Transport & Regions. Such a license will only be granted where a genuine need is proven and the person concerned has shown that he or she is competent to do so.

If you have a suitable area why not build your own bird of prey nest. We have put together four instruction sheets. Complete with cutting instructions and tips on positioning your nest box. Click on the images on the right to download the Trust nest box information sheets. Each one is in PDF format with a maximum file size of 200kb and opens in a new window. If you haven't already got it, the latest version of Adobe's PDF reader can be downloaded free from their website. Just click on the button on the left.