How can I spot an Owl?

Question

I love hiking and always look for wildlife as I walk into the woods. I've seen many animals such as the beautiful deers out in the fields or hiding in the woods. I've also spotted Blue Herons, Falcons, Hawks and many more animals but I've never seen an Owl out in the woods? I heard they take a slow and quiet flight and hide out pretty good could this be the reason? I know they come out at night but where are they hiding throughout the day? I would love to spot one in the wild as I hike can somebody please help a brother out?

Answer 1

Yes they are nocturnal, and hide extremely well, so you'll find it near impossible to find one unless you spend a lot of time peering in the trees. You'll never hear one take flight, since each strand on their feathers is splayed for silent flight. You're definitely better off looking for them at night.

Answer 2

It's best if you're away from campgrounds and other areas.  Walk an area with owl habitat -- trees with cavities -- during the day.  Revisit the area after dusk and sit quietly.  You'll see an owl.

Familiarize yourself with owl calls of the species found in your area.  (Check a field guide).  This will help you to locate them, too.  And choose a night with a fair amount of moonlight.

I recently participated in a program at an Audubon sanctuary.  The biologist was licensed to use a recorded call to attract one particular species.  It didn't work that night, but I saw two other species fly overhead, and managed to point out the 2nd one to the group so all got to see the owl.  It was a wonderful experience.

Good luck!

Answer 3

1. grow as many trees as possible in ur home.

2. sit at  night and donot sleep the whole night

3. observe the chirping of birds and find out which one is of owl

I AM SURE U`LL REALLY FIND ONE

Answer 4

I also would love to spot one. There's a book called "How To Spot An Owl" by Patricia Taylor Sutton. According to the book,  spotting one requires patience, local knowledge and making weird noises.

Good luck to you!

Answer 5

find a zoo or a place where they take in injured birds.  These days with fires a lot of birds have been displaced.

Answer 6

wait entill dark and then make a rustling noise 4 awhile 9makes an owl think there's a mouse running around) then wait 4 a bout  15 min then use a spot light to shine the trees chances are you will see one.

Answer 7

with a paint brush

Answer 8

Since some owls are diurnal and others are nocturnal, study the habitat and behavior for that particular owl (see chart below).



The best time to spot an owl is during twilight and before dark.



On trees and on the ground, look for white droppings called "whitewash" and "pellets" of bones and fur. These will usually indicate a daily perching or roosting site.



Nocturnal owls call more during moonlit nights before and during the nesting season.



Since owls are territorial and curious by nature, try imitating mice or another owl. You can also buy prerecorded owl sounds. But be careful not to overuse these tapes. The calls can be distressing to other birds and may distract an owl in the middle of a hunt.



Be sure to bring a flashlight with you. Owls do not associate flashlights with danger, so they will usually stay around for a while before flying off.



Learn the calls of different owl species so you can identify those you hear. For example, some people think the great horned owl's call sounds like it is saying "Who's Awake? Me toooo."  The call of the barred owl sounds like "Who cooks for you?" Screech owls sound like a horses' whinny.

Answer 9

The link below (from Defenders of Wildlife) has some great tips on owl spotting!

When I lived in the Puget Sound region I discover the best time to try and see an owl was around dusk and dawn.  You're right in that their flight is stunningly quiet.  So the best chance you'll have is to find a secluded spot near a woodline that borders on a field or prairie.   Try to keep as still as possible.

Owl calls for a number of species work surprisingly well.  I understand you can also get tapes of mice sounds and movements that attract owls too.

The last link will help you find out more about the owls in your region and provide additional tips on spotting them.

Good luck!  Keep us posted on your efforts.

Answer 10

Dude I am 40 and only seen one in the wild it was below eagle mountain lake in fort worth tx all I can say is keep lookin