Ontario Nocturnal Owl Survey Newsletter
February 2017
Inside
2016: Routes on the Rise (but
but not Owls?)
2016 Owl Results .............
..
..2
Top Owl Routes in 2016 ........... 3
Trend Figures .......................... 4
Additional Species Trends ...... 6
Let’s be Safe out there
.7
Photo Contest results ............. 8
Contact Info.............................11
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Once again the Ontario Nocturnal Owl Survey
participants “knocked it out of the park”
undertaking the highest survey season ever with
200 routes completed. Completed northern
Ontario surveys increased to 83 and Central
Ontario surveys increased to 117 (from 71 and
113, respectively). Survey conditions were great
throughout much of the region and 170 volunteers, accompanied
companied by their assistants,
assistan
had some amazing adventure
adventures surveying their routes (see pictures on page 8). In
addition, the
he overall number of owls recorded increased from 781,, in 2015,
2015 to 837 owls
of ten species recorded (Table 1)
1). The increase in owls likely
ikely relates to the increase in
routes surveyed, rather than an actual increase in owls. For example, overall, the
number of owls detected per route in 2016 (4.2 owls) was no different than the number
detected last year (4.3). However, iin Northern Ontario, the number of owls recorded
per route was 3.3 owls in 2016 compared to 4.0 owls detected per route in 2015.
2015 In
Central Ontario the number of owls detected, 4.
4.8 owls per route, increased slightly from
4.5 in 2015. Of course, when monitoring any bird species, it is important that we
interpret changes in the context of the longer term, or the “big picture”. Figure 1 shows
how variable owl numbers can be from one year to the next
Figure 2 shows that for most species, in Northern Ontario, there has actually been
relatively little change in the number of stations occupied by owls, per route per year
since the start of the survey. The exception is the Boreal Owl which has been detected
at fewer stations each year since 1995. In Central Ontario, the number of stations
occupied by Barred owls has increased (2.8% more stations occupied, per year, per
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route) since 1995, while the number of stations occupied by Great-Horned Owls and
Northern Saw-Whets has decreased. While we are unsure of the reasons for these
apparent declines, the Maritimes NOS has similarly detected declining trends for GreatHorned Owl in NB, although not for the other owl species.
The Legge family’s Catchacoma Lake route, just west of Kawartha Highlands Provincial
Park in Central Ontario, had the most owls recorded on any route with 16 Barred and 1
Eastern Screech (Table 2). The highest count in northern Ontario was Darryl McLeod’s
Turtle River route, west of Fort Frances, which had striking diversity including 3 Boreal,
6 Northern Saw-whet, 1 Barred, 2 Great Horned, and 2 unidentified.
-
- Kathy Jones
Ontario Nocturnal Owl Survey Coordinator
Table 1. 2016 Ontario Nocturnal Owl Survey Results.
Region
Barred Owl
Boreal Owl
Eastern Screech Owl
Great Gray Owl
Great Horned Owl
Long-eared Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Northern Saw-Whet Owl
Short-eared Owl
Unknown Owl
Additional Species
Ruffed Grouse
Wilson’s Snipe
American Woodcock
Central Ontario
Individuals Owls/Route
487
4.20
3
0.03
3
0.03
2
0.02
9
0.08
1
0.01
0
0.00
40
0.34
1
0.01
16
0.14
52
115
300
0.44
0.99
2.6
Northern Ontario
Individuals
Owls/Route
23
0.28
71
0.86
0
0.00
16
0.19
20
0.24
7
0.08
2
0.02
122
1.47
2
0.02
13
0.16
161
112
233
1.94
1.35
2.81
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Table 2. The “top five”: Routes with the highest number of owl detections in 2016
for Northern and Central Ontario.
Route Name
Northern Ontario
Turtle River
Hwy 672
English River Road
Dorion Cutoff Road
Alcona
Central Ontario
Catchacoma Lake
Bob's Lake
Trout Lake Road
Greenfield
Chandos Lake;
Housey Rapids
Route
Total Owls
Surveyor
23
312
20
84
57
13
12
12
11
10
Darryl McLeod
Lisa Levez
Christopher Martin
Bill Greaves
Ray Schott
137
313
411
94
218;
369
17
16
15
14
13
The Legge Family
Colleen Ringleberg
Dr. Andre Ferron & College Boreal Students
Diane Lepage
Justin Millet and Meghan Robson;
Barry Peyton
Northern Hawk Owl © Mark Clement
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Figure 1. Ontario Nocturnal Owl Survey Trends, 1995-2016 showing the mean
proportion of stations occupied (with owls) per route in Central and Northern
Ontario.
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Figure 2.: Ontario Nocturnal Owl Survey Trends in the number stations occupied
by owls between 1995 and 2016 in Northern and Central Ontario. Statistically
significant trends are shown with green bars (positive trends) or red bars
(negative trends), whereas white bars indicate little change between years.
Vertical lines are 95% confidence intervals.
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2016 Additional Species
Owl surveyors also recorded other species that they heard on their route. These
numbers of “non-owl” target species were also higher than in 2015 with 213 Wilson’s
snipe (75 in 2015); 227 Ruffed Grouse (51 in 2015) and 533 American Woodcock (229
in 2015) detected. As with the owl data this increase in numbers may be partly
explained by favourable winter weather condition, more accessible roads and increased
number of routes. Other surveys, such as the American Woodcock Singing Ground
Survey (which Bird Studies Canada coordinates in Ontario), have detected substantial
long-term declines in Ontario woodcock numbers since 1968.
Figure 3. Trends for Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock and Wilson’s Snipe,
2001-2016, showing the mean proportion of stations occupied per route in Central
and Northern Ontario.
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“Let’s All be Safe Out There”
Surveyors, not just owls, are important! As owl surveys are done at night, often in
remote locations and on narrow snowy roads, I cannot over-emphasize how
important it is to consider YOUR safety. Please keep in mind the following
suggestions to help ensure you have a fun enjoyable and SAFE evening conducting
your owl survey:
• Take a Friend;
• Tell another friend when you are going and when you will return; be sure to check in;
• Bring a cell phone, know if you have service where you survey, and, if you don’t,
don’t forget to shut if off to save your battery;
• Check the forecast for road conditions and for visibility;
• Ensure you car is in good condition. Decide if you have/need snow tires or chains. A
shovel is better than a long walk in the dark;
• We have never recommended using your car to broadcast due to sound quality
concerns butK ensure your battery functions well and will take a charge – so that
you don’t inadvertently drain it;
• If you don’t like listening to your caution lights leave your headlights on but ensure
your alternator is charging your battery as you travel between stations;
• Make sure your gas tank is full;
• Bring your winter roadside emergency kit. If you aren’t sure what goes in an
emergency kit, check out https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/video-roadsafety6515.htm and/or https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/sfttps/tp201012-en.aspx.
• Bring your first aid kit, make sure you know where it is and that it is up to date.
• Make sure you have your spare tire, a jack and your tire repair kit. And make sure
you know how to use it.
• Check the roads IN DAYLIGHT to make sure they are safe to drive, and that
people can safely pass you when you stop. Consider snow, mud, ruts, bridges etc.;
• Wear your reflective Safety Vest!
• Take a flashlight or head lamp as well as extra batteries;
• Take more food and water than you think you need;
• Ensure there are enough blankets or sleeping bags for everyone in the car;
• If there is no snow, check for ticks and/or stay out of the tall grass;
• If there is major snow melt or rain keep an eye out for washouts;
• Keep your eyes on the road while driving – stop and pull over before you start
owling;
• While driving only the passenger should handle any tech equipment (gps locations,
texts, phone calls etc.).
Taking little ones along? Take lots of fun snacks, bring ear protectors, dress them in
light-reflective colours and ensure children remain off the road. As you will be looking up
a lot (and not at your child) make sure there is another adult with you to specifically
keep an eye on them.
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Above all else remember that you are important and if for any reason you are
concerned for your safety, don’t (or stop) your survey! There will always be
another day and another year to collect data.
Let’s all be safe out there. If you remember where that quote comes from (or google it)
email me – all who can tell me its source, that you read the safety article, and are willing
to tell me their age, will be entered in a draw for a $10.00 Timmy’s gift card.
Thanks to our volunteers and sponsors!
A huge “Thank you” to the dedicated owl survey volunteers who travel
Ontario’s roads to collect important data, rearrange their schedules to
match road conditions and weather patterns, and stand out in the dark
on many a cold night to listen for owl. Thank-you also to the Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for its continued support of
this program, and our local Wiggan’s Foodland in Port Rowan who
supplied our volunteers with much appreciated hot chocolate.
Owl Survey Photo Contest results.
Fifteen people shared their owl survey images with us
via social media or email and each received a single
entry into the draw. Being scientists we used a random
number generator to find the winner: Tegan Legge,
who posted many images including one of the
youngest 2016 surveyors (love the bib). Tegan
received Scott Weidensaul’s book “Peterson
Reference Guide to Owls”, graciously donated by the
author. There are way too many photos to share in one
spot but here are a few examples.
Survey teams by Rob Routledge and Aimee Lavoi (all looking good in their visi-vests)
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Other Critters: by John Schemelski and Evan Armstrong.
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Surveyors at work: testing equipment, route checks or surveying by,
Raymonde Bourgeous, Lisa Pauloff and Stuart Immonen
Thanks to all the photographers for sharing! For 2017 please continue post your
images to twitter, facebook and instragram using #OwlSurvey. We love to hear how
the surveys are going.
It’s already March of 2017
Participants will be getting their 2017 Nocturnal Owl Survey packets in the mail in early
March. Participants who are new or have requested maps will receive them by email in
Mid March.
Online resources:
For survey protocols and data sheets: www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/onowls.
For downloadable MP3 audio files: http://www.bsc-eoc.org/birdmon/onowls. Please note
that you will need to create a login which takes one business day for approval.
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Owl Route locations and activity:
https://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?snapid=S853701MXCA
If you see an available route near you and are interested in surveying or have a team
member who is ready to survey on their own, call me to register for that route. Note that
new participants need contact me directly before they can be registered.
Be Social! Bird Studies Canada is on Facebook and Twitter and Kathy is on Facebook,
Twitter & Instagram so post about your evening, include lots of pictures about the good,
the bad and the out of focus. Tag us or use the hashtag: #owlsurvey so we can find
and share your story.
Contact us anytime:
Kathy Jones, [email protected]; @bscont ;
www.facebook.com/VolunteerBSCOntario;
https://www.instagram.com/bsc_ont_volunteer
Ontario Nocturnal Owl Survey
Bird Studies Canada
P.O. Box 160
Port Rowan, ON N0E 1M0
519-586-3531
Toll-free 1-888-448-2473
www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/onowls
To see the bigger picture here at Bird Studies Canada review our annual report
http://www.birdscanada.org/download/AnnualReportCurrent.pdf or become a Bird
Studies Canada member http://www.birdscanada.org/support/
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