Press Releases - November/December 2009
Item 31

No. 2009-11-42
November 2009

Where’s Brown Owl?

This is the question that the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the BBC Autumnwatch team are hoping to answer, by appealing to members of the public to listen out for Tawny Owls and report them to the Trust.

Dawn Balmer, Atlas Organiser at the BTO, said, “For a bird that lives so close to us, it is surprisingly difficult to find out just where Tawny Owls are and how many of them there are. By appealing directly to people to go out and listen for them, and, more importantly report them to us, we will go a long way to finding this out.”

Tawny Owls are a bird of woodland, parks and gardens and are very nocturnal in their habits, which makes it difficult to assess their true status. However, during these early winter months Tawny Owls are at their most vocal, as they reaffirm the bond with their breeding partner, reassert their authority on their breeding territory and ward off any interloping owls. This makes now the ideal time to get out and listen for them.

The BTO and BBC Autumnwatch have teamed up to appeal to members of the public to do just that. By reporting any owls heard, calls can be listened to at www.bto.org, they will be helping to complete the picture in a very important piece of scientific research. To report your Tawny Owls, visit the BTO website, www.bto.org. Please note that this is only an online survey.

So go on, get out on any still and calm autumn evening and help make a difference to our understanding of one of our closest but most secretive of neighbours.

Notes for Editors

1. The Tawny Owl is one of five owls that regularly breed in Britain and is one of the most nocturnal. The others are Barn Owl, Little Owl, Long-eared Owl and Short-eared Owl.

2. The BTO is the UK’s leading bird research organisation. Over thirty thousand birdwatchers contribute to the BTO’s surveys. They collect information that forms the basis of conservation action in the UK. The BTO maintains a staff of 100 at its offices in Norfolk and Stirling, who analyse and publicise the results of project work. The BTO’s investigations are funded by government, industry and conservation organisations.

3. Bird Atlas 2007-11 is a partnership between the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) and BirdWatch Ireland.

4. To take part in Bird Atlas visit the website www.birdatlas.net and follow links to ‘Taking Part’. Allocation of fieldwork is done locally through a network of Regional Organisers.

5.Bird Atlas 2007-11 will map the distribution and relative abundance of birds in Britain and Ireland during the breeding season and winter. The latest Atlas Newsletter is available for download from:
http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/atlasnews-sheet

6. Results produced by Bird Atlas 2007-11 will form the basis of conservation priorities for coming decades.

For further information please contact:

Rachel Irvine (Fundraiser, Individual Giving)
Office: 01842 750050 (9am to 5.30pm)
Email:

Dawn Balmer (Atlas Organiser)
Office: 01842 750050 (9am to 5.30pm)
Mobile: 07743 994497
Email:

Paul Stancliffe (Press Officer)
Mobile: 07845 900559 (anytime)
Email:

Images are available for use alongside this News Release
Please contact quoting reference 2009-11-42

The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews
Please contact us to book an interview
Office: 01842 750050