Egg-cellent news! Meet the rare barn owl babies born in Northern Ireland

Some very exciting news - especially if you're a bird watcher, a conservationist or a barn owl!

10 baby barn owls have been born this summer in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.

It's really exciting news because there's thought to be very few barn owls left in Northern Ireland.

Conservationists having been working alongside local farmers for a long time installing nest boxes and improving habitat for the birds.

A conservationist is a person who works to protect animals, plants and natural places from harm and extinction.

The Fermanagh chicks are thought to be the first recorded ones in the county for half a century.

Read on to find out more about the birds and their very cute little chicks!

The two broods of five chicks appeared in nest boxes that had been installed at different sites.

But shhh... it's top secret!

The exact locations are being kept under wraps to help protect the rare birds.

The chicks have had small identification rings placed round their legs so that they can be traced when they are spotted again.

Over the past 50 years, barn owl numbers have declined across the UK.

The birds are now red-listed, that means they are at risk of extinction.

And that's largely due to a loss of habitat but also the use of pesticides, which are chemicals used to get rid of insects that harm crops and plants.

The owls usually nest in large, old trees like oaks.

And they need to be near rough ground because that's where small rodents that they hunt live.

But the number of the right type of tree near the right type of area is falling in Northern Ireland.

So that's why these boxes, like the one in the photo above, are so important.

These nest boxes are specially designed to resemble the tree cavities barn owls usually live in.

They are specially designed to keep water out.

Conservationists can access the nests to check on any chicks and ensure their wellbeing.

And there is a platform on the front where the young birds will exercise and practise flying before leaving the nest.

Conservationists and farmers have been working really hard on this and obviously, it's paying off!

But people can help in their everyday lives too.

The public are being encouraged to report if they see barn owls across Northern Ireland, particularly in the west.

That's to help fill in gaps in the records and will help experts identify and protect important areas.