Overview
Project Name
Manitoba Nocturnal Owl Survey
Access Level
Open (core fields)
Year started
1990
Dataset
Manitoba Nocturnal Owls Survey
About
Dataset summary
Most species of owls are nocturnal and are therefore poorly monitored by existing multi-species surveys, such as the breeding bird survey, migration Monitoring, and Christmas bird counts. Information on distribution, abundance, and population trends of Manitoba owls is required to monitor their conservation status. Manitoba Nocturnal Owl Survey was initiated in 1991 to: Obtain information on owl distribution, estimate their relative abundance, estimate trends in their population, determining habitat associations of owls.
Geographic area covered
Manitoba
Primary species covered
Four target species are Great Grey Owl, Barred Owl, Boreal Owl and Northern Saw-whet Owl??
Goals
To obtain information on owl distribution, estimate their relative abundance, estimate trends in their population, and determine habitat associations of owls.
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 (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).
Partners
Citation
Birds Canada and Manitoba Conservation. 2025. "Manitoba Nocturnal Owl Survey". Data accessed from NatureCounts, Birds Canada.
