INTERESTING results were found in response to surveys to monitor the elusive Long-eared Owl in Devon and Cornwall.

Teams of volunteers, led by Chris Sperring from the Hawk and Owl Trust, are carrying out the surveys on the rare birds in Forestry Commission forests in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset to find out how many breeding pairs there are in the South West. So far, the surveys have shown the presence of Long-eared Owls in forests on Bodmin Moor and on Dartmoor.

Chris Sperring said: 'What the results of these surveys are showing so far is how important conifer forests are for these rarely seen, nocturnal owls.

'Due to their elusive ways, we don't know much at all about the Long-eared Owl and this lack of knowledge has meant that it isn't afforded any special legal protection or conservation status and is entirely omitted from the UK Birds of Conservation Concern list. That is why I believe it is so important to carry out these surveys and try to find out where they are and what habitats they prefer.'

The Long-eared Owl is Britain's rarest owl species and notoriously difficult to survey. It is thought that there is a UK population of just 1,500 to 2,000 pairs.

Steve Minton, planning manager at the Forestry Commission said: 'Our forests provide important habitats for a range of species and it is important that we know whether the Long-eared Owl is one of these.

'The more we are aware of which species are using our forests, the more we can tailor future land management to meet their needs.'

Further surveys will be carried out during May and June, with all data being submitted to both the Forestry Commission and the British Trust for Ornithology.