How a clever local plan to boost the owl population is controlling rats, cutting chemicals and protecting the future of farming

In the traditional nursery rhyme, the farmer takes a wife and the cat takes the rats.  But on a Macca farm at Clunes, the farmer has built nest boxes and watched owls move in to clean up the rodents.

It’s all about reducing the use of chemical poisons, known as rodenticide that may be causing unseen harm all the way up the food chain.

The “Owls-eat-Rats” project, led by Alastair Duncan and backed by local conservation business Wildbnb Wildlife Habitat, has just received a $50,000 boost after winning the prestigious 2025 Taronga Zoo Hatch Accelerator Program. 

The funding will help expand the initiative to more farms across the region, potentially transforming the way we manage pests, protect native wildlife, and preserve biodiversity on productive land.

Owls vs Poison

Macadamia nuts may be tough to crack for humans, but not so for rats. They’ve developed a precise knack for slicing through shells and devouring the valuable kernel inside. The damage to crops is considerable, but the traditional fix of spreading second-generation rodenticides comes with its own costs.

“Rodenticides don’t just kill rats,” Duncan said. “Scientists are concerned they remain in the ecosystem and they bioaccumulate, like mercury in seafood. Owls, quolls, even domestic pets – all of them are at risk.”

Studies have shown that more than 70 percent of Australia’s top predators have rodenticide residues in their systems. The poisons don’t flush out. And when an owl eats a poisoned rat, it too can suffer a slow, cruel death.

“We see way too many owls killed by cars on our roads and it’s quite possible that they are sick or have become sluggish from the accumulation of poison in their system.  Every time they eat a poisoned rat it builds up in their system, so their response times become slower and they slowly starve.”

That’s where “Owls-eat-Rats” flips the script. The idea is as simple as it is powerful: install purpose-built nesting boxes and hunting roosts for barn owls, allowing in nature’s silent and deadly night-time pest control team. 

At Banyula, a regenerative farm near Clunes, the results have been astonishing.

“Within a week of putting up the boxes, we had owls moving in and laying eggs,” said Banyula director Matthew Bleakley. “A small family of barn owls can eat 10 to 15 rats a night. It’s phenomenal.”

His co-owner Richy half-joked about wanting to install 1,000 boxes. “But I don’t think he’s actually joking,” Bleakley said.

Nature-Based Farming for the Future

With concern growing about chemical use in agriculture, the push for nature-based solutions is accelerating. The “Owls-eat-Rats” initiative not only addresses rodent problems but also helps bring back native species and restore ecological balance.

“We’ve seen multiple breeding events across sites now,” Duncan said. “Each breeding pair can take 1,000 rats out of the system in a single season.”

A Region Ready to Lead

Duncan, whose background is in sustainable development, now spends much of his time on farms, helping landholders adopt owl-friendly practices. 

Though the project began with macadamia growers, interest is spreading across industries and beyond the region, with early-stage talks about pilot sites as far north as Bundaberg.

“People want to do the right thing,” Duncan said. “They just need viable alternatives. That’s what we’re working on.”

For him, it’s personal as well as professional. “I just love owls,” he said.

“They’re beautiful. They cope quite well living around humans, even though we rarely see them – but they’re out there, working through the night.”

Now, thanks to a bit of creative thinking, they’re not just part of the ecosystem. They’re part of the solution.

Want to Help?

Farmers or landholders interested in installing owl nest boxes or learning more about the project can visit: www.owlseatrats.com.au

Main photo: Alistair Duncan takes to the stage in Sydney after being announced winner of the 2025 Taronga Zoo Hatch Accelerator Program.