Great Horned Owl. Photo by Alvan Buckley
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The Nocturnal Owl Survey provides citizen scientists in NL the chance to contribute to important long-term research for some of the province's most charismatic bird species: owls.
Owls are top predators and are vulnerable to environmental disturbances such as toxins and habitat loss, making them excellent indicators of environmental health. However, due to their secretive nature and nocturnal habits, they are not well monitored by traditional bird surveys. During the Nocturnal Owl Survey, more than 1000 volunteers across Canada spend a spring evening outdoors counting owls. Volunteers sign up to survey one (or more) pre-defined owl survey routes for one night between 1 April and 15 May. Each route consists of 10 stops, separated by 2 kilometers. At each stop, volunteers alternate between timed silent listening periods and playback of owl calls, and record all owls seen or heard. |
Information on owl populations is essential for developing sound conservation strategies, identifying species in need of conservation action, and evaluating the effectiveness of management programs. The data collected by Nocturnal Owl Survey volunteers ensures that we monitor the distribution, abundance, population trends and habitat associations of these important nocturnal species.
Owl webinar
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Watch An Evening of Owls to find out about the owl species found in Newfoundland and Labrador and learn more about the Nocturnal Owl Survey!
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IMPORTANT NOTES
- Survey season runs from 1 April to 15 May each year
- You can use a portable speaker to play owls calls using the MP3 file below from a phone or alternative device
- All surveyors must have a NL Gov't permit with them at all times while surveying - you can download the permit below
- Please submit survey results through the Birds Canada NatureCounts website by 15 June
Volunteer resourcesTraining
Owl Training MP3 file Self Assessment: Boreal Owl vs. Wilson's Snipe Conducting the Survey NL Gov't NOS Permit: 2023-2026 Boreal Owl Observation Form NL Nocturnal Owl Survey Instructions Nocturnal Owl Survey Data Sheet Stop Description Form Owl Broadcast MP3 file Survey RoutesSurvey routes are shown in the above map
(1) Click the arrow icon in the top left corner of the map. (2) A legend showing survey routes will appear on the left hand side of the map. (3) Re-click the arrow icon to hide the legend. To view a map of available survey routes and sign up for a route, visit the NOS NatureCounts website. (Note: you will have to log in to see route map.) To request a new route be mapped out in an area(s) you would like to survey, please email Catherine Dale (cdale@birdscanada.org). |
MAP of SURVEY ROUTES |
Route Maps and Coordinates
PDF maps (for use on a GPS enabled device)
Geo-referenced PDF Maps - Survey Routes - Part 1
Geo-referenced PDF Maps - Survey Routes - Part 2
Suggested applications:
(1) Avenza PDF Maps
(2) Paper Maps
Note: Geo-referenced PDF maps are not available for all routes. Simple PDF maps (not geo-referenced) can be found on the NOS NatureCounts website under Resources.
Geo-referenced PDF Maps - Survey Routes - Part 2
Suggested applications:
(1) Avenza PDF Maps
(2) Paper Maps
Note: Geo-referenced PDF maps are not available for all routes. Simple PDF maps (not geo-referenced) can be found on the NOS NatureCounts website under Resources.
Excel files of route coordinates (to upload to Google Maps or a handheld GPS)
To learn more about this survey across the Atlantic provinces, visit Birds Canada's Atlantic Nocturnal Owl Survey page.
This project is supported by the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.
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