PRESS RELEASE
18 November 2007
Romance in the roost
‘Twit twoo' may not sound romantic but for tawny owls in Cheshire it signals love for the coming winter months.
The signature ‘twit twoo' of tawny owls can be heard frequently at this time of year but few people realise the calling shriek is romance in the making as the birds search for potential partners at this time of year, according to Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
In order to attract a mate, male tawny owls produce the ‘twit' sound and females reply with the ‘twoo' bringing the birds together. And once tawny owls are paired up they form strong bonds and are one of only a few animals that remain loyal to each other for a lifetime.
For those hoping to hear the beginnings of a blossoming tawny owl relationship, its best to head in to woodland and farmland as this is where tawny owls prefer to live, although they will also live in urban areas such as parks and gardens if necessary.
Sue Tatman, wildlife gardening officer from Cheshire Wildlife Trust, says: “Listening out for the call of the tawny owl at this time of year shouldn't be too difficult as they are very actively looking for a mate. The best places to find tawney owls in Cheshire is in areas of woodland, such as around Delamere Forest, or on the Bickerton and Peckfortan Hills.”
Tawny owl trivia
- Tawny owls are about the same size as a pigeon
- Tawny owls are identified by a dark ring of feathers around their face surrounding their dark eyes
- It's thought that 20,000 pairs of tawny owls live in the UK
- Female tawny owls lay eggs in a hole in a tree or in an old crow's nest.
Both parents feed tawny owl chicks. As well as the famous ‘twit twoo' call, tawny owls have a range of other calls used to communicate with one another. To find out how you can help the work of Cheshire Wildlife Trust by becoming a member call 01948 820 728
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