Welcome to the information pages for the National Long-eared Owl Survey 2007 (MOTLE-2007)
Below is everything you need to know if you wish to take part in this year’s survey.

The Long-eared Owl - Asio otus
Description
As with most other Owls the female appears larger than the male with an average height head to tail of between 350mm and 400mm with a large wingspan for the size of owl at around 1000mm across.
If you do get to see a Long-eared Owl the most striking features are the two large ear tufts.
These tufts of feathers when erected on top of the head appear to make the owl look bigger and aid its camouflage by breaking up the outline of the bird, and have nothing to do with the hearing.
Long-eared Owls have large orange eyes, even as owlets.

Plumage Long-eared Owls have rich buff-brown plumage mottled with darker brown and cream. The breast is paler, buff or cream, and patterned with brown-black streaky cross-shaped markings. The facial disk is often quite russet in colour and edged in black. There is normally an additional white band along the lower edge of the facial disk and distinctive black or white “eyebrows” giving them a rather stern expression when alarmed. Long-eared Owls have relatively long tails – characteristic of birds living in dense vegetation – with six to eight bars brown bars. In flight, dark carpal patches can be seen on both the upper and lower surface of the wing and an orange “wrist” patch may be visible on the upper surface. Care must be taken here to avoid confusion with Short-eared Owls as they also display these markings, though in the Short-eared Owl they are more prominent. Long-eared Owls can make themselves appear surprisingly thin and will even fold down their facial disks and turn a wing across their pale breast feathers when attempting to remain hidden. The owlets have dense grey down; the ear tufts are in evidence at an early age growing underneath.

Diet
Long-eared Owls feed on a wide variety of food from small mammals such as Mice and Voles through to small birds the size of Thrushes. Insects are also commonly found in the diet in some areas.
Prey selection can be different from area to area, in southwest England the main prey item is the Short-tailed Vole Microtus agrestis, but this Vole does not occur in Ireland and is replaced there by the Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus and a greater proportion of small birds.

Habitat
Important information for selecting survey area
The Long-eared Owl is generally an Owl of dual habitat: in South-West England for example it prefers to nest and roost in woodland and by night hunt across open grassland for mainly small mammals.
However, this is not the case everywhere: in Cambridgeshire it can nest and roost in large mature hedgerows but still is dependent open grass areas for prey, while in northern counties, such as Cumbria, its preferred nesting and roosting areas are small conifer plantations surrounded by rough grassland, often on fell sides – perhaps here they are less likely to have strong competition from Tawny Owls.
In winter, northern birds are often found in large hedgerows or copses in coastal areas.
To sum up habitat selection by Long-eared Owls, they are a dual habitat bird utilising both broadleaf and coniferous woodland edge for nesting and roosting, and requiring open grassland for hunting. They may frequently be found however in mature hedgerows and scrubland and have on occasion even been observed roosting and nesting on the ground as the Long-eared Owl’s close relation the Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus does.

Breeding and Nesting
The nest of the Long-eared owl is normally an old stick nest made by another bird such as crow species or hawk. This nest can be found either in a tree or high scrub.
The eggs, which are normally laid between April and May, are white and are almost spherical.
In good years 4 to 6 eggs can be laid. Incubation is usually 28 days and the owlets spend a long time with their parents moving around the territory. The calls of the owlets are un-mistakable as they sound like un-oiled metal gates commonly recognised as “Squeaky gate” calls.
Having perhaps hatched in late May or the beginning of June, the owlets begin to move away from the parent’s territory by late August.

Call or Song Important information for selecting survey area Whereas the familiar Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) can be heard uttering its famous hooting and screeching songs at any time of the year, the Long-eared Owl calls for a few weeks only. Long-eared Owls reach a peak of calling around the end of February and throughout March. The male call is a low toned repeated single monotone “hoo”, often described as sounding like blowing over the top of a narrow necked bottle. This male song can be repeated for hours on end and the female may reply with a higher-toned “veeeees”, which sounds exactly like someone blowing through a paper and comb. There are many other sounds and calls but these two are the main ones to listen out for, as they are the pre-breeding calls of the Long-eared Owl. Also listen out for wing clapping were the male displays to the female by clapping his wing together whilst in flight. As we are also asking for Tawny Owl information, we herewith include a brief written description of the Tawny Owl’s calls. For this species, the main call is the famous hooting, “hoooo ho ho hoooo”. Both sexes, but more commonly the male, use this call, though the male’s hoot is invariably more mellow and tremulous. Both male and female can also screech but females tend use the more pleasing sounding “erieeee erieeee”, whereas an aggressive male calls “Keewick keewick”. To download the calls of Tawny owl and Long-eared Owls please click here (web link to be added).

Survey Methods
Read this section thoroughly as a guide to using the survey forms
Firstly let’s look carefully at what we need to know.
We need information on Long-eared owls that are calling, the reason we have chosen March as the month to go out and listen for Long-eared owls is because this is when they are carrying out pre-breeding calling. This gives us a guide as to the number of active pairs within an area. However if you see a Long-eared owl but don’t hear it calling, make a special note of it on the survey form.
The area you choose to survey is up to you, but should be based on the best habitat type for the Long-eared owl that you can find within your area. If you already know a site that has Long-eared owls, then this makes a convenient starting point, but it is worth questioning whether they are the only ones in the area. If you have time, you might perhaps like to try searching other areas close to the occupied site.
If there have never been any records of Long-eared owls in your area, yet you still wish to take part, then do just select the nearest best match habitat you can find: you never know, you might discover a new breeding population!
It is important not to forget that we are also asking for Tawny Owl information, so please note down on the survey form all Tawny Owls heard on your chosen survey night.

Habitat and Location
Please note on the survey form the location of your survey area with map references. If you want the site you have selected to be kept confidential then please tell us by marking the top of the form confidential.
Please note habitat with as much detail as you can; this is important when we come to look at best ways to conserve this species. There will be major differences in some areas and this will help us to expand our knowledge of the types of habitat that can be successfully used by Long-eared Owls.
When you have chosen what you feel is good site, there is no need to spend your entire time walking around the selected woodland or forest at night. Long-eared Owls tend to call from, or near too, the woodland edge, meaning that the best method of survey is to find a good position in this area of the habitat and simply wait and listen.

Why is this Survey being done in March?
Mainly because March is the climax of the Long-eared Owl pre-breeding calling, with males advertising themselves and defending territories, and females responding. Calling can begin as early as late January and build through February, reaching a peak between the end of February late March after which the Owls should be settling to breed.

How much time shall I spend in the dark?
How much time you spend listening for Long-eared owls during March 2006 is up to you as an example Hawk and Owl Trust volunteers in south west England normally spend 3 hours in a night listening for the calls. They do this on 3 or 4 nights during the month at different locations or indeed at the same location. Please make sure you have put this information on the survey form.

When is the best time to start listening?
In South-west England the Long-eared Owls don’t start calling much before 2300hrs, however in Ireland we have had many reports of them calling at 1700 - 1800 hrs. Indeed from two sites in northern England around 2000 - 2100 hrs has been recorded. Your time of starting is up to you, however if you feel, as some do, that the Tawny owl is affecting the time when the Long-eared Owls begin calling, then starting later might be better.

Would you like to know which areas will be surveyed before we go out?
Yes if possible, this helps us to see if an area is already covered.
Contact either coordinator: we will be in touch with each other throughout the survey period.

What if it is bad weather, will I still hear the owls calling?
Probably not as the calls of this species of owl are not as loud as Tawny Owl and both tend to be quieter. It is wise to choose weather conditions when there is no or only a light wind and certainly no rain or snow.

Is this just an online-based Survey?
No, we can send out all of the information that is on the website, including the survey forms, by post on request.

We have always included Tawny Owls as part of the MOTLE for two reasons.

Your safety and returning the information
Please read this thoroughly we want you to enjoy this survey.
Remember that this is a voluntary survey. We are not forcing anyone to do this, so if you take part in surveying for Long-eared Owls; it is at your own risk.

A simple common sense guide to your safety when taking part in the Long-eared Owl MOTLE 2007:

We know that this all sounds silly to mention, however commonsense can be forgotten when you are excited about taking part in this project.
Above all else enjoy your time out at night and being apart of a survey that will make a difference for this one of least known about Owls.

• 
• Copyright © Ann & Steve Toon

Please return all filled in survey forms to either:
By E-mail to:

By surface mail to:
Sue Thurley
Conservation Officer
World Owl Trust
Muncaster Castle
Ravenglass
Cumbria
CA18 1RQ

Registered Charity Number: 1055489 Limited Company Number: 5296745

The World Owl Trust is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). The Trust relies on a dedicated membership, visitors, donations and legacies.