BIRD lovers in South Lakeland and north Lancashire are being asked to prick up their ears and listen out for the distinctive hooting call of the tawny owl.

Numbers of tawny owls have declined considerably in recent years, which has prompted the national survey into the species.

People are asked to listen out for the call of the owls - which are at their most vocal during the winter - and report their findings to the RSPB to provide valuable information about where owls are currently living.

"It is the most common owl in Britain but research has shown that numbers have dropped by about a third in the last 25 years," said Iris Rose, visitor officer at the RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss, near Carnforth, which is supporting the research.

"The aim of the survey is to find out a bit more information so we can work out the causes of the decline and how we can tackle the problem."

Also backing the survey is Nick Henderson, who runs the Corio Raptor Care and Rehabilitation centre at Bentham, which takes in orphaned or sick or injured birds of prey and nurtures them back to health.

Last year, out of the 70 birds that came into the centre, 20 were tawny owls.

Mr Henderson said that tawny owls were not doing too badly in this area, but that the survey was still essential.

"Tawny owls can survive anywhere so if they are struggling that is very bad news for other birds which aren't as hardy such as barn owls or merlins."

Tawny owls usually nest in trees but can make a living in farmland, gardens and parks, as well as woodland.

Although they can be difficult to spot, they are very easy to hear.

Ms Rose explained that hooting is best heard from an hour after sunset to an hour before sunrise.

Dark, still, dry nights give the best chance of hearing a calling owl.

A typical male call is 'whoo-hooo-hoo'.

If you hear 'too-whit, whoo-hooo-hoo' this will be the female calling the first phrase, answered immediately by the male, so you have heard a pair.

The tawny owl's hoot can be heard by logging onto the RSPB website on www.rspb.org.uk/youth.

Anyone who hears an owl can either send details to the RSPB Wildlife Explorers, UK Wild 2000 Owl Survey, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL or call Leighton Moss on 01524-701601.

Reports should include:

- Where you heard the tawny owl - include a postcode and county or four-figure grid reference.

- Which date(s) you heard it.

- Whether you heard a female, male, or both.