BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Owls replace pesticides in Israel

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Owls replace pesticides in Israel: "Owls and kestrels are being employed as agricultural pest controllers in the Middle East.

Many farmers are installing nest boxes to encourage the birds, which hunt the crop-damaging rodents.

In Israel, where there is a drive to reduce the use of toxic chemical pesticides, this has been turned into a government-funded national programme.

Scientists and conservation charities from Jordan and Palestine have joined the scheme."