We have a fantastic opportunity for you to take a look behind the scenes at some of the work the RSPB is involved in. This Friday, the 13th of December, we will be running the last Tawny Owl survey taster event of the year. Join the team out on the reserve when the sun has gone down and these secretive animals start to become active, sending their eerie calls across the valley.
Tawny Owl at Coombes Valley Image by E Ingram.
Tawny owls (Strix aluco) are usually quite difficult to see as they are a nocturnal species, mostly inhabiting woodland areas making them tricky to count. To get a sense of the number of owls present in an area, surveys are carried out using a playback method. This involves playing the call of a male tawny owl and listening to see if any of the local owl population responds. This is a good time to do these surveys as Tawny owls establish new territories at this time of year as they prepare for the early start to their breeding season. It also means that Tawny’s are particularly vocal at this time of year.
Tawny owls are medium sized stocky owls that hunt by looking for prey items from the branches of trees before swooping down. Unlike the barn owl which mainly feeds on small rodents, tawny’s can be found eating a manner of different foods including insects, earth worms, frogs and small birds. They are found widespread across the UK apart from Ireland and islands of the mainland due to their dislike of flying over water.
Tawny owls start to establish their breeding territories from November onwards. They make their nests in holes in trees where they usually lay 2-4 eggs. Incubation lasts for around 30 days. Chicks are quite agile being able to climb back into the nest if they manage to fall out. Chicks fledge after 35-39 days and can breed in their first year. The typical lifespan of a tawny owl in the wild is 4 years.
Tawny Owl chick in tree Image by Andy Hay (RSPB-Images.com)
If you would like to join us to take a look into the secretive world of the tawny owl, whilst learning a bit more about why the RSPB takes part in this kind of work, then give the team a ring on 01538 384017. There are limited spaces available for this walk so as not to disturb the owls, so please ring or email the reserve to book. We will have some owl pellets for you to take a look at and dissect and on return to the visitor centre, warm up with a cup of free hot chocolate!
The walk will start at the Visitor Centre at 6pm and is expected to last until 8pm. £8 Adults, £4 Children. A 20% discount applies to RSPB Members.
For more information see our events page by clicking the link: http://www.rspb.org.uk/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-355348