A West Belfast man is overjoyed after Black Mountain Rewilding Project managed to entice an at-risk barn owl back into the city hills after efforts spanning four years.

Barn owls were once common in Northern Ireland but habitat loss, extreme weather and toxins from eating poisoned prey have taken their toll on the species, with less than 30 breeding repairs thought to remain here.

Ulster Wildlife say the future of the iconic species is in peril and “without urgent help… could be lost forever”. It is also listed on the Northern Ireland Environment Agency priority species list as “sensitive”.