A barn owl admitted to a wildlife rehabilitation centre in critical condition has been found healthy and nesting with four newly hatched chicks near Mammari, a year after being released back into the wild.
The discovery was made during nest monitoring activities carried out by BirdLife Cyprus together with the Department of Forests and Bird Focus, as part of the National Action Plan for the barn owl.
Checking the ring on the female bird identified it as TL00035. According to information provided by the Taşkent Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in the Vouno village in the occupied north, the bird had been admitted in December 2024 injured and in very poor condition. After treatment, it was ringed and released in March 2025.
One year later, monitors found it healthy in one of the nest boxes placed near Mammari, together with its mate, which had also been ringed, and their four chicks.
At the time of the check, the female weighed 385 grams and was in excellent condition. Both parents returned to the nest immediately afterwards and continued caring for their chicks.
BirdLife Cyprus said the barn owl’s story was a characteristic example of the importance of wildlife rescue, treatment and conservation efforts.