The Nocturnal Owl Survey is ideal for both beginner and experienced birders. With only 3 species of nocturnal owls in NL (Great Horned Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, and Boreal Owl), it's easy to learn the calls you need to recognize. The low time commitment (1 night per year) makes it a good fit for families. And nothing can compare with the excitement of exploring the mysterious night world and hearing an owl call from the woods nearby as you sip your hot chocolate!
To see an up-to-date list of available routes, sign into your NatureCounts account
Under the "My Data" menu, click on "Available routes"
To adopt an available route, click on a green icon
Decide whether you want to adopt the route for one year or on an ongoing basis
If there are no available routes in your area, contact us - we may be able to help you find a route, or even establish a new route in your area. We are always looking to improve our coverage!
Scout out your route in daylight before doing the survey. Note: Google maps and excel files of stop coordinates are available for all routes. Stop descriptions are also available for many routes
Test your equipment and if necessary borrow equipment
4. Pick your night
The survey must be done between April 1 and May 15
Good weather conditions are necessary: temperatures above -15°C, no persistent rain or snow, and winds below 20 km/h
5. Conduct the survey
The survey should begin half an hour after sunset and finish before midnight