A Northern Saw-whet Owl in rehab with Safe Wings. If you find an owl in distress, call Safe Wings at 613-216-8999 or the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre at (613) 854-2849 (photo credit: Safe Wings).

First, Do No Harm

Ottawa is home to six resident owl species throughout the year. In the late fall and winter, we also host visiting migrants like the Snowy Owl and Northern Hawk-Owl, which fly south from their summer territories in boreal forests and the Arctic in search of food.

As a birdwatcher or nature lover, encountering one of these solitary and elusive birds in the wild can be a thrilling experience. However, our enthusiasm for these magnificent creatures can sometimes cause them harm.

Winter is a time of scarcity. Owls—some of them already depleted from long migrations—must focus all their energy in the colder months on finding food from a limited supply. Though our attention is often well-meaning, it can create a disturbance for an owl that impedes its ability to hunt and prevents it from getting the rest it needs. It’s not uncommon for an owl to die of starvation in cases where we have literally “loved them to death.”

Tips for Ethically Observing Owls

So, when you encounter an owl, how can you avoid causing harm to the animal? Below you’ll find some tips. The OFNC also has a Birding Code of Conduct that we recommend as an ethical rule of thumb for observing any bird species.

Tip #1: Leave It to Fate

Social media, eBird, iNaturalist—there are so many ways to tap into the vibrant birding community in Ottawa. But the proliferation of these platforms also means that information travels fast and it travels to many, many people.

Avoid looking for an owl because its location was posted on one of these apps—there is likely already a crowd gathered around that animal causing a disturbance. Instead, try frequenting likely habitats (conifer stands, agricultural fields) and hope for a chance encounter. If you’re lucky enough to come across an owl, keep the experience as a beautiful moment between you and the bird and don’t share its location with others.

As a field naturalists’ club, we are big believers in citizen science, so if you do want to register your sighting, see the eBird Guidelines for Reporting Sensitive Species. Importantly, there are ways to record your data without making it public—either by delaying the report until the season is over (giving the bird a chance to move on) or hiding your observations after you have submitted a checklist.

Tip #2: Keep Your Distance

Owls need their personal space, just like we do. While these birds of prey may look formidable, they are actually quite sensitive to disturbance. If the animal looks at you or changes its behaviour in any way in response to your presence, you are too close. A pair of binoculars, a telephoto lens, or a scope can be useful for observing owls at a safe distance.

And if the owl flies away, don’t follow it.

People photographing a Snowy Owl at the Experimental Farm in 2014 and kept back at a safe distance from the owl behind a livestock fence (photo credit: Janette Niwa)

Tip #3: Don’t Overstay Your Welcome

Take a few minutes to appreciate the owl and then move on. If you’re trying to identify the species, grab a couple quick photos and study them later with your field guide—away from the owl.

Tip #4: A Roosting Owl Means ‘Closed for Business’

In the colder months, owls need as much rest as possible in the daytime so that they have enough energy to hunt at night. A restless sleep that has been disturbed by human attention can mean the difference between surviving and not surviving the winter. If you find a roosting owl, move on quickly and try to cause as little disturbance as possible.

Tip #5: Leave the Camera at Home

Photography is a rewarding hobby for many naturalists, and it can be a useful tool for collecting data as a citizen scientist. But sometimes we can get carried away trying to get that ‘perfect shot’. There is something to be said about just enjoying the moment without that added pressure of a camera.

If you do bring a camera, never use the flash when taking a photo of an owl.

Tip #6 That’s Not Really a Tip: Never Ever Bait an Owl

Sometimes people can get really carried away trying to capture a perfect photo. They will bait owls with live mice purchased from a store. It is actually illegal to bait and harass owls and may carry a fine of up to $25,000 under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.

If an owl gets used to being fed by humans, it starts to put itself in dangerous situations to be closer to them, i.e., by roadsides where collisions with owls are frequent. Feeding owls also disrupts their natural hunting behaviours.

Tip #7: Speak Up Because the Owl Can’t

As a member of the OFNC, you understand that loving nature isn’t just about appreciating it—we also have a responsibility towards it. Many people won’t realize that their behaviour is harmful. If it feels safe for you to do so and you see someone getting too close to an owl, or taking too long to take their photos, kindly tell them their prolonged attention is actually jeopardizing the bird’s survival. If you’re online and you see an owl location posted, privately message the person who posted it and ask them to take it down. Or, post a public comment reminding people about safe and ethical owl observation (you can link to this blog post, or one of the many other nature organizations that talk about ethical birding). These birds rely on us to advocate for them.

Final Tip: Don’t Forget the Chickadees

Birdwatching is an incredible pastime that is often a gateway for people to connect deeper with nature. After all, most of us may not recognize the Crested Wood Fern when we come across it or know where to find a Spotted Salamander, but we’ve all seen the red Northern Cardinal standing out against the snow.

As birdwatchers, let’s take a moment to appreciate the beauty and majesty not just of the Great Grey Owl or the Painted Bunting, but of the Chickadees, Starlings, and Juncos. These are the birds we see all the time and take for granted, but they deserve our wonder and attention, too. We all have those life lists full of empty boxes that nag at us…the ones for rare migrants and, often, owls. But no checked box is worth the death of an animal.

 Black-capped Chickadee (photo credit: Janette Niwa)