Here's a curious fact: every owl prowl CKAS has advertised has filled up and started a waiting list within days of announcement. Who knew owls were so popular? And so far, everyone who's attended the prowls this year has gotten to either see or hear an owl. We have not had much species variety—only Eastern Screech-owls so far—but we expect that to expand over the next few prowls.
With so much owl interest, we thought it might be a good moment to talk about owl hunting etiquette. So here are some tips to make an owl prowl experience better for everyone (especially the owls!).
– Dress for the weather. You might be outside for hours. Temperatures drop after sunset. Layer your clothing. Bring rain gear just in case.
– Bring the right equipment. Choose binoculars that let in more light.The numbers on the binocular tell magnification x objective lens size. Divide the second number by the first. The higher the number the better; ideally, you want a result of 5+ for low light.
– Research owl calls for your area. It's possible that you never see an owl but only hear one. Know what to listen for. Common owls this time of year in central Kentucky are the Eastern Screech-owl, the Barred Owl, the Barred Owl, and the Great Horned Owl. Then listen closely!
– Keep flashlights pointed at the ground, not into the trees. No one likes lights shined in their eyes, especially owls. Spotlighting can disrupt their night vision and make them alarmed and vulnerable. Best bet: hold your owl prowl close to a full moon and leave the flashlights at home.
– Go easy on the playback of recorded owl calls. The science is still out on whether playing bird calls to lure a species closer is bad for the birds. Err on the side of caution and only use playback sparingly if at all. Always ask the group you're with whether anyone objects and respect both your party and the owls.
– Maybe leave very young kids at home. We get it: kids LOVE owls. And an owl prowl sounds like a great opportunity to introduce them to nature. But if they can't be still and pay attention while your read them a book, they likely won't for an owl prowl either. Owl prowls are hushed, quiet affairs, with a lot of close listening involved. Skittish owls and rambunctious kids generally don't mix. Take the kids out looking for owls solo or bring them on one of CKAS's morning bird walks instead.
CKAS President Tony Brusate gives a hoot before guiding an Arboretum Owl Prowl.
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