Wildlife

Long-Eared Owl Welfare in UK Woodland and Farmland

The long-eared owl is one of the least known UK breeding birds, with welfare tied to adequate small mammal prey availability and the persistence of suitable nesting structures in woodland edge habitats.

Key Facts

UK breeding population estimated at only 1,000-5,000 pairs due to difficulty of detection
Requires abandoned crow and magpie nests for breeding in woodland edges
Hunts over open ground including farmland and moorland at dusk and dawn
Vole populations closely track long-eared owl breeding success
Winter roost sites in dense ivy or evergreen scrub provide critical shelter
Distribution poorly understood due to nocturnal behaviour and secretive nesting

Welfare Considerations

Long-eared owls breeding in areas with vole population crashes face food shortages that cause breeding failure and adult mortality. Loss of woodland edge with appropriate nesting structures removes breeding sites. Winter mortality during cold spells when hunting is impaired depletes the population. The scarcity of suitable nest structures and prey may limit population recovery even in appropriate habitat.

What You Can Do

Report long-eared owl sightings to BTO BirdTrack and Barn Owl Trust
Support woodland edge management that creates nesting and hunting habitat
Advocate for retention of old crow and magpie nests where safe to do so
Maintain ivy and dense scrub for winter roosting where possible on your land
Support rough grassland management alongside woodland for hunting habitat
Donate to nocturnal bird monitoring programmes including long-eared owls