Tawny Owls 2005 Survey
18 July 2005 | Chris Robinson (berks_bto_rep btinternet.com)
This year BTO are organising a national Tawny Owl survey which will run from mid-August to mid-October. The survey is based on 15 tetrads (2km squares) within pre-selected 10km squares. Berkshire has been allocated two such squares, hence 30 tetrads in all to be surveyed. The two squares are SU56 (bounded approximately by Thatcham in the NW, Aldermaston in the NE, Tadley in the SE and Headley in the SW) and SU86 (bounded approximately by Wokingham in the NW, Bracknell in the NE, Camberley in the SE and Yateley in the SW). The tetrads in each are A, B, D, F, H, J, K, M, P, R, T, U, W, X, and Y. This is a map showing tetrad positions in a 10km square:-
| E | J | P | U | Z |
| D | I | N | T | Y |
| C | H | M | S | X |
| B | G | L | R | W |
| A | F | K | Q | V |
Or put another way, Tetrad A is the one in the southwest corner; Tetrad Z the one in the northeast corner.
The survey is very easy to do - a 10-minute count sometime during the survey period at, or as close as possible to, the centre of a tetrad to count hooting or calling birds. More than one visit will be useful but this is not essential and obviously the survey must be done at night! There is the usual requirement to record the habitat type but this really is simple (honest!). If you would like to help with this survey and take on one (or more!) tetrads, I would be delighted to hear from you.