Overview
Project Name
Atlantic Canada Nocturnal Owl Survey
Access Level
Open (core fields)
Year started
2001
Dataset
Atlantic Nocturnal Owls Survey
About
Dataset summary
The dataset consists of detections of noturnal owls along survey routes with stops established at 2km intervals along roadside.
Season(s) and frequency
any evening between April 1 and May 15
Geographic area covered
Maritime provinces of Canada
Primary species covered
Focal species is Barred Owl, also of interest are Northern Saw-whet, Great-Horned, Boreal and Long-eared Owls.
Goals
The goals of this survey are to determine population trends of owls (especially Barred Owls) in Atlantic Canada, to gather location information on rare or little-known owl species (especially Boreal and Long-eared Owls), and to involve volunteer birders from across the region in active wildlife monitoring.
Methods
Sampling Design
Randomly selected routes
Field methods
Similar to other roadside surveys using tape playback. Two volunteers drive pre-determined route, stopping at fixed intervals (2 km apart in NB and PE, 1.6 km apart in NS) along roadside. At each stop, 2 minutes of silent listenting is followed by playbacks consisting of pre-recorded owl
Analysis methods
Annual reports written and posted on BSC website (http://www.bsc-eoc.org/regional/nbowls.html)
Partners
New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources
Prince Edward Island Department of Natural Resources
Citation
Birds Canada, New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources, and Prince Edward Island Department of Natural Resources. 2025. "Atlantic Canada Nocturnal Owl Survey". Data accessed from NatureCounts, Birds Canada.
