Overview
Project Name
Manitoba Nocturnal Owl Survey
Access Level
By Request
Year started
1990
Year Ended
Ongoing
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
Target species are nocturnal calling owls including Northern Saw-whet Owl, Great Horned Owl, Great Grey Owl, Barred Owl, Boreal Owl and Long-eared 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 along established roads
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 minimum of one evening from March 15 to April 15 and take approximately 1.5 hours to complete (not including travel time to and from the survey route).
Partners
Manitoba Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures
Citation
Manitoba Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures, Discover Owls, Nature Manitoba and Birds Canada. 2026. "Manitoba Nocturnal Owls Survey". Data accessed from NatureCounts, Birds Canada. 10.71842/6xe8-ss89
