Owl Prowl

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Tawny Owl

20070101

20251110 (BBC7)

Chris Sperring is looking for a tawny owl in the middle of Bristol.

The tawny owl is fairly adaptable. Predominantly brown in colour, with huge eyes; the size of a wood pigeon. It could quite easily disappear into the background in the leafy area of a city, as long as there are enough small mammals to sustain it.

Chris meets Professor Stephen Harris, who is one of the UK's leading experts in small mammals.

Chris goes deeper into the city, to a green area with trees. Here the tawny owls have some cover and somewhere to hunt from.

But does all the noise and motion from people and machinery disturb the owls?

Chris Sperring goes in search of a tawny owl in Bristol city centre.

Is it possible to find a tawny owl in Bristol? Or does all the noise and motion from people and machinery disturb them?

[LISTEN NOW]

Little Owl

20070102

20251111 (BBC7)

Chris Sperring searches for little owls at Ashton Court, near Bristol.

The species is declining in Britain due to destruction of their habitat. However, conservationists are not concerned because the little owl is an introduced species.

It's thought that they may be one of the few of such species that have not caused any damage to the environment.

Chris describes their alarm behaviour, their hunting methods and how they crop up in Greek and Roman mythology.

Chris Sperring goes in search of Britain's smallest owl - the Little Owl.

Little Owls are in decline in Britain due to destruction of their habitat. Will Chris Sperring be able to find one in Bristol?

[LISTEN NOW]

Owl Calls

20070103

20251112 (BBC7)

Owl expert Chris Sperring uses his own methods to hear different owl calls.

Chris visits an area of woodland to look for tawny owls and discusses learning to make their call. He also explains the problems of over-using calls when looking for owls.

Chris delves into the role of calls when young owls look for new territory, and how it functions in nesting & territorial behaviour. Plus, the difference between male and female calls.

Chris visits an area of woodland to look for tawny owls and explains the problems of over-using calls when searching for them.

[LISTEN NOW]

Eagle Owl

20070104

20251113 (BBC7)

Chris Sperring travels to Sweden, where he has a close encounter with the largest owl in the world, the Eagle Owl.

Chris meets naturalist Tom Arnbon at Skansen Zoo, Stockholm. He explains that the eagle owl is a native Swedish species and describes the zoo's rescue and re-release programmes.

Chris also chats to Alar Broberg, an eagle owl specialist, who tells him about owls nesting in quarries and their lifespans.

There is some controversy surrounding eagle owls in the UK as some view them as natural migrants that have a place in Britain, and others view them as escapees from collections.

Chris Sperring travels to Sweden to meet the largest owl in the world, the Eagle Owl.

[LISTEN NOW]

Barn Owl

20070105

20251114 (BBC7)

Chris Sperring visits the Somerset Levels to observe barn owl chicks on the nest.

Somerset Levels is a stronghold of British barn owls,. Chris investigates young owls begging for food and the parents feeding their young. He looks at their nests, the roosting habits of adult birds and the differences between the male and female plumage.

Chris also describes adults training the young to hunt and mortality rates for barn owls.

Chris Sperring visits the Mendips to catch up with the Barn Owl.

Chris Sperring seeks out the nation's owl population. He visits the Mendips to catch up with the Barn Owl.

[LISTEN NOW]

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Tawny Owl	20070101	20251110 (BBC7)	Chris Sperring is looking for a tawny owl in the middle of Bristol. The tawny owl is fairly adaptable. Predominantly brown in colour, with huge eyes; the size of a wood pigeon. It could quite easily disappear into the background in the leafy area of a city, as long as there are enough small mammals to sustain it. Chris meets Professor Stephen Harris, who is one of the UK's leading experts in small mammals. Chris goes deeper into the city, to a green area with trees. Here the tawny owls have some cover and somewhere to hunt from. But does all the noise and motion from people and machinery disturb the owls? Chris Sperring goes in search of a tawny owl in Bristol city centre. Is it possible to find a tawny owl in Bristol? Or does all the noise and motion from people and machinery disturb them? [LISTEN NOW]
02	Little Owl	20070102	20251111 (BBC7)	Chris Sperring searches for little owls at Ashton Court, near Bristol. The species is declining in Britain due to destruction of their habitat. However, conservationists are not concerned because the little owl is an introduced species. It's thought that they may be one of the few of such species that have not caused any damage to the environment. Chris describes their alarm behaviour, their hunting methods and how they crop up in Greek and Roman mythology. Chris Sperring goes in search of Britain's smallest owl - the Little Owl. Little Owls are in decline in Britain due to destruction of their habitat. Will Chris Sperring be able to find one in Bristol? [LISTEN NOW]
03	Owl Calls	20070103	20251112 (BBC7)	Owl expert Chris Sperring uses his own methods to hear different owl calls. Chris visits an area of woodland to look for tawny owls and discusses learning to make their call. He also explains the problems of over-using calls when looking for owls. Chris delves into the role of calls when young owls look for new territory, and how it functions in nesting & territorial behaviour. Plus, the difference between male and female calls. Chris visits an area of woodland to look for tawny owls and explains the problems of over-using calls when searching for them. [LISTEN NOW]
04	Eagle Owl	20070104	20251113 (BBC7)	Chris Sperring travels to Sweden, where he has a close encounter with the largest owl in the world, the Eagle Owl. Chris meets naturalist Tom Arnbon at Skansen Zoo, Stockholm. He explains that the eagle owl is a native Swedish species and describes the zoo's rescue and re-release programmes. Chris also chats to Alar Broberg, an eagle owl specialist, who tells him about owls nesting in quarries and their lifespans. There is some controversy surrounding eagle owls in the UK as some view them as natural migrants that have a place in Britain, and others view them as escapees from collections. Chris Sperring travels to Sweden to meet the largest owl in the world, the Eagle Owl. [LISTEN NOW]
05	Barn Owl	20070105	20251114 (BBC7)	Chris Sperring visits the Somerset Levels to observe barn owl chicks on the nest. Somerset Levels is a stronghold of British barn owls,. Chris investigates young owls begging for food and the parents feeding their young. He looks at their nests, the roosting habits of adult birds and the differences between the male and female plumage. Chris also describes adults training the young to hunt and mortality rates for barn owls. Chris Sperring visits the Mendips to catch up with the Barn Owl. Chris Sperring seeks out the nation's owl population. He visits the Mendips to catch up with the Barn Owl. [LISTEN NOW]