During the Winter Census of the Long-eared Owl, which ran from 20 December 2022 to 1 January 2023, 50 volunteers carried out observations in 95 settlements in 18 counties of the country. In 63 settlements, 1,595 Long-eared Owls were counted at active roosting places, while in 32 settlements no evidence of these owls was found and only abandoned roosting sites were identified.

As in previous years, at this year’s census several owls disappeared or were present in much smaller numbers. One of the reasons for this is undoubtedly the mild spring weather and the felling of trees used as roosting sites, which remains the most common threat.