Professor Yossi Leshem of Tel Aviv University is one of the leading researchers and a leader in nature conservation and wildlife in Israel and worldwide. He joined forces with businessman and farmer Shaul Aviel, who installed the first artificial nest for Barn owls in Israel in 1982. They are world-known pioneers and founders of the Barn Owl Project in Israel and worldwide.
The Barn Owl Project is part of the Ministry of Agricultural Development's National Rodent Control Program in Israel since 2002. Since then, 5,000 artificial Tyto nests have been installed throughout the country's national agricultural area, which has resulted in a 60% -70% reduction in chemical rodenticide inputs.
Tel Aviv University professor Dr Yossi Leshem holds a Barn owl chick while presenting the Barn Owl Project in Israel
The iconic figure of farmer and businessman Shaul Aviel gives a field lecture in front of one of the oldest Barn owl nest boxes in Sde Eliyahu, Israel
Important institutions and personalities have also contributed in the Barn Owl Project such as the Israel Nature Conservation Society (SPNI) at which Dr. Yossi Leshem has served as president, the Volcani Research Center, and Dr Yoav Motro of the Ministry of Agricultural Development who has been continuously supporting this national project with Ministry funding and his valuable knowledge. Many more researchers, technicians, postgraduate and Ph.D. students, as well as academics, have contributed to the great success of the Barn Owl Project in Israel.
The “Association for Management and Conservation of Biodiversity in Agricultural Ecosystems” - "TYTO" has participated in Barn Owl Project proceedings in Israel since 2015 - even before TYTO was established- in a series of meetings, workshops, scientific conferences, and exchange of experiences and know-how with experts. Four missions have been carried out to date in Israel with representatives from other countries and the excellent scientific cooperation and exchange still continues.
The aim of the cooperation is the natural containment and control of pest-rodents in agriculture through the management of the nocturnal raptor Barn owl (Tyto alba), an emblematic raptor in the agricultural ecosystems. We reinforce the natural predation of rodents by Barn owls that feeds exclusively on small mammals, through strengthening and stabilizing its population with the provision of artificial nest-boxes, in order to gradually reduce the use of rodenticides in the agricultural countryside.
Dr Yoav Motro of the Israeli Ministry of Rural Development presents details of the Barn Owl Project in Sde Eliyahu, Israel
The Chairman of the Board of Civil Society Organization "TYTO" during field work at Sde Eliyahu in Israel
Professor Dr Orr Spiegel of Tel Aviv University presents the Atlas Project regarding the monitoring and recording of Tyto's movements in Israel
"TYTO" visits the BioBee headquarters in Sde Eliyahu, Israel to participate in a meeting regarding the Barn Owl Project. Participation of representatives from Cyprus, Jordan, Spain, France, Greece
"TYTO" participates in field work for the Barn Owl Project in the Hulla Valley in Israel.
The Chairman of the Board of Civil Society Organization "TYTO" presents the implementation of the Barn Owl Project in Thessaly to the President of Israel Isaac Herzog at the Presidential Palace, together with Professor Dr Yossi Leshem and Shaul Aviel
