From August 2018 to March 2019, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) are embarking on Project Owl, a volunteer-based survey to find out more about our Tawny Owls, which do not lend themselves to be monitored by other surveys.
I am calling for volunteers to take part in this project. Fieldwork is not onerous, based mainly on listening for calling birds at and after dusk. Full details can be found at www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/project-owl/about-project-owl.
There are two parts to the survey. The first, running from August 15th to October 15th, consists of counting calling Tawny Owls from certain points in Fife and Kinross for 10-30 minutes after sunset. The survey sites are based on those used in previous Tawny Owl surveys in 1989 and 2005. Priority tetrads (2km x 2km) are targeted, counting from a point as close as possible to the tetrad centre. In our region, the tetrads involved are in the 10 km squares NO00, NO30 and NO50. Targeted tetrads can be found at www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/project-owl/tawny-owl-point-survey. Here, you can find available tetrads and sign up for the survey.
The second part takes place from September 30th to March 31st 2019. This is ideally carried out once a week, therefore from a place that you are able to visit regularly, such as your garden. Further details for this survey will be issued later.
Ideally, the results are entered online, but paper forms and instructions can be provided if necessary. If there are any questions, please contact me (below)
T: 01334 654348