A Barn Owl survey has been launched in Sligo and Leitrim.

Members of the public and landowners are being asked to report any information on Barn Owls in the region to Birdwatch Ireland, as they look to record the population of the species across the North West.

Although once widespread in Ireland, Barn Owls have experienced a sharp population decline.

Alan McCarthy, Barn Owl Research Officer with Birdwatch Ireland, highlighted the importance of local contribution to the survey: