Alberta Nocturnal Owls Survey

Birds Canada
https://www.birdscanada.org

Canadian Wildlife Service

Beaverhill Bird Observatory
http://beaverhillbirds.com/

Project name: Alberta Nocturnal Owl Survey

Goals : The purpose of the Alberta Nocturnal Owl survey is to collect information to help determine status of species, and to act as an early warning signal if populations are declining. The goals of this program are to: obtain information on distribution of nocturnal owls in Alberta, estimate relative abundance of owls collect information that will lead to estimating population trends of nocturnal owls at regional and provincial scales, as well as contribute to a North America-wide program, determine habitat associations of nocturnal owls.

Dataset summary : The purpose of the Alberta Nocturnal Owl survey is to collect information to help determine status of species, and to act as an early warning signal if populations are declining. The goals of this program are to: obtain information on distribution of nocturnal owls in Alberta, estimate relative abundance of owls collect information that will lead to estimating population trends of nocturnal owls at regional and provincial scales, as well as contribute to a North America-wide program, determine habitat associations of nocturnal owls.

Status : Active

Years (comments) : Ongoing

Season(s) and frequency : Volunteers are needed to help run owl surveys during March, April, and early May. Only two nights (approximately two hours each night) are required for these surveys.

Frequency : Annually

Geographic area covered : Alberta

Type(s) of habitat : ?

Primary species covered : Owls

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 (1.6 km apart) along roadside. At each stop, timed listening periods. Surveyor identifies and records all owls seen or heard during each listening period. Surveys begin one half hour after sunset during a single evening in April and take approximately 3 hours to complete (not including travel time to and from the survey route).

Sample size : 30 transects

Publications : Takats, D. L. 1998. Nocturnal owl surveys in the Foothills Model Forest - a model for a volunteer program. Beaverhill Bird Observatory, Edmonton, Alberta. 10 pp.

Funding sources : BSC

Applications for the data : Counts used for statistical analysis of population trends

Users of the information : BSC, other conservation organizations, raptor biologists