Hoots mon: Scots to help count owls

Scots are being asked to listen out for tawny owls as part of a nationwide survey to assess how the species is faring.

There are fears the nocturnal birds of prey could be disappearing from town and cities.

Now ornithologists are asking for people up and down the country to keep their ears open for the distinctive “hoot” calls of the male owls and sharp “kee-wick” sound of the females to help build a clearer picture of their numbers.

It is hoped more than 10,000 people across the UK will take part in the survey, which is being run by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

It takes only 20 minutes, and anyone can take part – the charity’s website has tawny owl recordings for people to familiarise themselves with.

Ben Darvill, development and engagement manager for BTO Scotland, said: “We’re really interested to learn more about where people are hearing tawny owls and where they aren’t.

“Edinburgh and Glasgow have more green space than any other UK cities, but do the numbers of calling owls reflect that? They are hard to detect during normal daytime bird surveys, so we don’t really know. How might light pollution and traffic noise be affecting their calling behaviour? To answer these important questions we need the help of people throughout Scotland.” Equity Release may involve a home reversion plan or a lifetime mortgage, which is secured against your property. To understand the features and risks, ask for your personalised illustration. Any money released, plus accrued interest would be repaid upon death, or moving into long-term care.

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