Members and visitors alike crowded into the Main Hall at the Bridport United Church on 23rd February to hear Mike Read's Illustrated Talk “The Barn Owl - Under the Cloak of Darkness”. A professional photographer for over 25 years, Mike is best known for his superb images of birds, although he is just as comfortable talking about other wildlife topics. He started by telling us that between 1932 and 1985 the Barn Owl population in the UK declined by over 70%, mainly due to loss of habitat because of increasingly intensive agricultural practices. It is estimated that there are now only about 4,000 breeding pairs: an alarmingly low figure given that a very large number are killed on our roads each year, as they search for food in the rough ground that remains along roadside verges/ditches etc. His wonderful slides took us through the Owl's life cycle and the audience was very appreciative of a truly excellent presentation.

Photo of A Barn Owl © Mike Read www.mikeread.co.uk