March - May

Nocturnal Owl Survey

Once a year, volunteers use their owl identification and call recognition skills during a nighttime roadside survey.

©Northern Saw-whet OwlPhoto: Kate Dalgleish

Across Canada

Owl Surveyors enjoy a very special adventure on roadside surveys – the sights and sounds of Canada’s starry, early spring nights, all while tracking the owl populations that breed in our large forests.

Owls are directly affected by changes in our forest landscapes. These majestic predators are easy to identify, but because they are often nocturnal and nest early in the season, they require special monitoring.

Join over 1,000 volunteers taking part in the Nocturnal Owl Survey across Canada

Become part of an annual tradition— surveying owls along quiet roads, documenting population trends and breeding range limits. As an owl surveyor, you get to enjoy the solitude and peace of these early season counts. Many volunteers have turned these surveys into family traditions, with decades of memories shared through generations.

In total, there are 16 different types of surveys across Canada, each supported by a regional coordinator. Each survey targets a specific group of owl species that are important for the particular region. Survey locations are often in rural areas, such as Canada’s large tracks of forests, as well as prairie parklands and grassland habitats. All routes are pre-assigned with 10-30 stops along the way. Most of the owl surveys are completed at night, once a year in the early spring (March, April or May) using owl call broadcast to entice territorial owls to respond.

If you are interested in participating, here are some important considerations:

Surveys usually take place after dark and occur on isolated roads often covered in snow
You will be responsible for your own transportation
You will need a broadcast unit to survey, as well as a GPS or GPS app
Birds Canada provides training materials (booklet), data forms and broadcast MP3 files online

Please take the time to review the regional information below and follow the registration instructions provided.

Please note that Birds Canada follows Ethical Birding Practices, we do not support the use of owl call broadcast outside of owl surveys.

Ready to join the survey?

Choose Your Region

British Columbia and the North

Western Screech-Owl surveys across Southern Coastal BC, Interior BC, Yukon & Northwest Territories. Visit NatureCounts or contact the coordinator.

NatureCounts

Alberta

Surveys throughout the Boreal/Foothills/Mountains and Prairie Parkland. Visit NatureCounts or contact the program coordinator.

NatureCounts

Saskatchewan

Surveys across the province. Visit NatureCounts for more information.

NatureCounts

Manitoba

Surveys across the province. Visit NatureCounts or contact the coordinator.

NatureCounts

Ontario

Surveys across Northern and Central Ontario. Visit NatureCounts for more information.

NatureCounts

Québec

Surveys across Northern and Southern Québec. Visit NatureCounts for more information.

NatureCounts

Atlantic Canada

Surveys across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island. Visit NatureCounts or contact the coordinator.

NatureCounts

Newfoundland and Labrador

Nocturnal Owl Survey and Short-eared Owl Survey (daytime). Visit the links below for more information.

Nocturnal Owl Survey Short-eared Owl Survey

Why We Survey for Owls

Owls – those mysterious birds we hear on early spring nights. They capture our hearts and imagination. As predators, the health of their populations will often reflect the health of the species they eat, and the health of the habitats they live in. Information on owl distribution and abundance is essential for developing conservation strategies, identifying species in need of conservation action, and evaluating the effectiveness of forest management programs.

Start your spring with a quiet evening of monitoring owls along a remote road on a starry night. Not only does surveying make a meaningful difference – but it's simply a delight to experience these beautiful birds on a quiet spring evening.