At one time, the Burrowing Owl was common in the four western provinces. Now, it is one of the most endangered birds in Canada. The population decline began in the 1980s and accelerated during the 1990s to an average rate of 22% a year. In 1977, more than 2,000 breeding …
I think the reason I like owls so much is their complete disdain for the human race. They pretty much don’t care if we exist or not. I’ve seen a lot of owls, but not one of them has ever given the impression of being even slightly interested in our activities. Like …
It’s a miserable, dark, snowy day here in Calgary. I was enjoying my book and a cup of tea when my corvid alarm went off. As any birdwatcher knows, a flock of screaming crows, magpies and jays generally means there’s an owl in the vicinity. I grabbed my binoculars & …
I love it when owls throw up on me. One winter day when I was walking my dogs in a thickly wooded area, I sat down for a rest on a fallen log. As the dogs sniffed their way around the area, something fell from the sky and dropped into …
Situated in the rolling prairie fields of southern Saskatchewan lies an unusual tourist attraction, highlighting a most engaging little bird. The Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre (SBOIC) is an educational facility dedicated to the conservation of burrowing owls and their prairie home. Opened to the public in 1997, the Centre …
Do you have barn owls on your life list? Me neither. Worldwide, they have a very wide distribution. They are found in the Americas, in most of Europe, in non-Saharan Africa, India, South East Asia and Australia These light coloured owls with their heart shaped facial disk are not easy …
To many birdwatchers, owls are the ultimate challenge. Absolute masters at blending into their environment, combined with the fact that many species are nocturnal, owl sightings are always a treat. Two experienced birdwatchers in northern Alberta may have just set a record for that treat. Leaving Edmonton at 7:00 am, …
It’s March in Canada. The Great-horned owls are nesting, the ravens are doing their courtship flights, and today I had the first robin of the year in my yard. What better day to start a Canada birdwatching blog? There is actually very little information on the net about birdwatching in …