Long-eared owls are among the UK's most secretive birds. Their welfare in conifer plantations and hedgerow networks is poorly monitored and deserves more attention.
Long-eared owl welfare is poorly understood due to the species' extreme secretiveness. Most welfare issues - food scarcity in low vole years, nest failure, winter stress - occur unseen. The limited survey data available suggests population is stable but this reflects monitoring difficulty as much as actual status. Winter roost sites in dense hedgerows are critical welfare resources but can be destroyed by over-trimming. Maintaining thick, tall hedgerows with adjacent rough grassland hunting habitat is the most practical welfare action.