What do a 5am start, freezing conditions, camera-loving owls and a BBC crew mistakenly locked into a farm estate add up to? A successful BBC Breakfast broadcast, that’s what!
We’re really pleased the Beeb picked up the story about how Conservation Grade farmers are boosting wildlife alongside their commercial crops.
BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Hubball and her camera crew visited Pensthorpe Estate Farm in Norfolk on 12 and 13 January to meet the farm manager and conservation expert, and see Nature Friendly Farming in action.
Two captive-bred owls – Tulu and Rosie – were recruited for an up-close-and-personal look at Barn Owl characteristics and habitat needs. Rosie, who came with her handler Mark Christian from Norfolk Falconry, then gave us a surprise, doing what owls do and regurgitating her last meal live on camera!
An unexpected highlight has to be when a wild Barn Owl swooped in to feed in the afternoon – chased by a kestrel – which was all caught on camera.
So, in spite of the frosty start and panics over owls too heavy to fly (who’d have known they can put on Christmas weight on too?!), the broadcast was a great success and has generated plenty of interest. BBC Look East also covered the story as did the Telegraph and the NFU.
Oh, and the late-working presenter and camera man were quickly unlocked from the farm on Thursday night.
For information about the Barn Owl project, visit: www.naturefriendlyowls.org.
