How to get more owl sightings

Nature Talk
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Any helpful information on getting more owl sightings?

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Visit airports. Look for pellets or whitewash on the ground. Travel up here to Acadia National Park in winter and you might get a snowy owl.

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Are there any Owl banders here? If so do you have any helpful information on calling for owls. I want to see some Northern Saw-whet Owl in my area. I know that they winter in my area. I also know that it can cause problems for Owls if you call for them. I purposely ask for Owl banders because they call for owls.

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Follow the bird photographers at Kirstenbosch.

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Do they have a website?

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I see their photos on FB
https://web.facebook.com/groups/kirstenboschphotography/posts/8470059733071508/

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Thanks

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I was amazed with how quickly I was able to find an eagle-owl at Kirstenbosch. Super cool!

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Are you looking to see more owls yourself, or to get more people to observe owls in general?

I am aware of the following techniques:

  1. Extensively study the species. Learn when it is expected to be active, plus what kind of trees and habitat it likes. Also learn to recognize those trees. Read historic records. Hunt for places that seem likely. Stop by those spots frequently to check for owls.
  2. Casually look out for signs like whitewash and pellets, and always follow up when birds like crows and jays are making noise. (Sometimes they are harassing an owl!)
  3. Connect with a lot of other birders in your area and, if they know you are a reliable observer who will not harass the owls, they may tell you where they have found owls.
  4. Put in a lot of time not actually seeing any owls. My impression is that the people who seem to constantly be seeing owls are actually putting in many hours not seeing any, you just don’t hear about that part.
  5. Get really lucky.

The way to get other people to observe more owls is to teach them these techniques. :sweat_smile:

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@taylorse very very helpful information! Thanks so much!

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I’m really getting into birding this year. So I want to target Owls this winter.

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It helps that not all owls are always nocturnal. Barred Owls, for instance, are often out and about in the daytime, too.

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I actually got to see a Barred Owl near my house last year during the day. I was out hunting and walked by a Bradford pear tree and saw the Barred Owl.

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I would recommend not using playback to see owls, especially small species in winter when there’s little to no cover. It can cause the owl to be harassed by crows and other birds or even killed:

a Northern Saw-whet Owl killed by a Cooper’s Hawk when it was flushed from its protective roost during the day

https://artusobirds.blogspot.com/2017/04/on-ethics-of-photographing-owls-and.html
https://artusobirds.blogspot.com/2014/12/signs-of-stress-in-owls.html

I agree with everything @taylorse has said and would also add to look out for feathers. Northern saw whet owls typically roost in conifers near the trunk. Good luck!

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Thanks!
I’ve watched videos on YouTube and some of the channels said basically the same thing. All information is very helpful it also shows that people like you and me care about the life of the Owls.

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