Nest of mates: The kestrels and barn owl who live together
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 8:23 AM on 15th October 2009
In the human world, house-sharing is often dictated by the limitations of space and finance.
But when you're as free as a bird, surely there are no such strictures.
So quite why these kestrels decided to share a home with a family of barn owls is a mystery.
Far from being a unique pairing however, it is apparently part of a growing trend.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said it had seen an increase in the number of birds sharing their nest boxes with different species.
Barn owls in particular seem to attract the most varied tenants, with reports of the birds sharing with species including jackdaws and stock doves.
In Boston, Lincolnshire, where this picture was taken, the arrangement seemed to work well, as the owls hunted at night, leaving the kestrels to sleep and find food in the day.
Other cohabiting species include blue tits and great tits, which have also been seen sharing with pied flycatchers.
The RSPB is now urging homeowners to clean out their nest boxes and put up new ones before birds begin house-hunting in the spring.
Richard James said: 'If birds are sharing, both species would appreciate another box.'
