During autumn 2005, the BTO launched three major surveys to ascertain the status of this popular and enigmatic species. In spite of its familiarity, its nocturnal habits make it difficult to study and none of the annual BTO surveys are well suited to monitoring changes in the Tawny Owl population.

Results from the Breeding Bird Survey suggest that the species may be undergoing a period of decline, so a concerted effort to determine numbers and distribution of Tawny Owls within the UK, will be immensely valuable. One stage of the survey involved professional ornithologists investigating how Tawny Owls respond to the tape play-back of their calls.

A second component was a repeat of the only previous national survey of Tawny Owls, originally carried out in 1989. This re-survey used fieldworkers coordinated through the BTO Regional Network. To complete the picture we asked BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatchers and other interested volunteers to listen out for calling Tawny Owls from their gardens between early October 2005 and the end of March 2006. Use the 'Options' box above to find out more about the Garden BirdWatch component of the Tawny Owl Survey. All three surveys are now finished and the results are being analysed.

To find out more about the two other parts of the survey click here