Tips on Finding Owls

​Tips on how to find Owls
Steve Gillick ​www.photosonthewing.com

Owls can be found throughout the year in Southern Ontario.  Regular visitors include Barred Owls, Screech Owls, Long-eared Owls, Short-eared Owls and Great Horned Owls.  Starting in November, we often find Saw-whet Owls and, if lucky, Snowy Owls.  And on rare occasions, a Northern Hawk Owl.
I like to join other Bird Photographers in posting sightings on social media.  For me, this means Facebook and Instagram.  Often, people ask where the Owls were photographed or for tips on finding Owls.  Here is my unscientific attempt at a response.

Non Disclosure
First off, I (and many other bird photographers) do not disclose the location of the birds they photographed.  This is done with the best interest of the birds in mind.  The last thing we all want is a busload of eager, loud photographers descending to a specific location to find and photograph a shy and usually sleeping Owl.     For a more detailed explanation, please see blog.

Research
Learn as much as you can about Owl habitat and Owl behavior.  Find out what kind of trees each species of Owl prefers, what their eating habits consist of, whether they are diurnal (hunt during the day) or Nocturnal (hunt in the evenings and sleep during the day), and at what time of year they usually visit the areas near you.   This will provide you with a framework.  You can visit your local forest, park, nature reserve, etc.  You can also ask local birders if they’ve seen any Owls.  Some may oblige, others may choose to be secretive.  The very first Saw-whet Owl we encountered was in a wooded area.  We chatted with another birder who had seen a Saw-whet, and she went out of her way to walk us to the tree where the Saw-whet was roosting.   
Some birders check ebird.com where others have shared their sightings and usually mention general locations.

Patience and Persistence
Owls don’t keep schedules.  Just because someone saw an Owl in a specific location does not mean that 1 minute later, the Owl is still there.  But many Owls have routines, so if you stay in the area (silently!), the Owl may return, or you may find it in a nearby tree.  Or not at all.  You may have to be patient and wait for a sighting.  Or return on subsequent days until you see the Owl.  

Respect
Once you see an Owl, show some respect.  Learn about proper bird photography protocol, which includes how distant you should be from the bird (invest in a Zoom lens), the level of silence to maintain, and the amount of movement you should exercise.  Some birders try to lure Owls with food, Owl hoot apps, flash photography, or by trying to get as close as possible (even though they are using an 800 mm lens).  This is all bad behavior and ruins the adventure for all birders.  Learn about signs the Owl may exhibit that indicate discomfort and stress.  Learn to be disciplined.  If you photograph an Owl, it’s OK to leave while it is still present.  You don’t have to wait until it flies off to end the photo session.   

Finding and photographing an Owl is a serendipitous privilege.  It’s a magical, educational moment in time.  Take the time to learn about Owls and the rewards will be in the form of lasting memories.