UPDATE (March 19): Standardized Owl Surveys can only be completed in regions where the Atlas-3 point count locations and maps have been finalized. Regular atlassing for owls can proceed as usual.

Owl and Nightjar Survey Resources

Training resources

The recordings below are for training purposes ONLY. Please find the downloadable broadcast playback files for each of the standard owl and nightjar surveys in the dropdown menus on the left.

Barred Owl

Boreal Owl

Great Gray Owl

Great Horned Owl

Long-eared Owl

Northern Hawk Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Short-eared Owl

 Media Credit: Bruce Lagerquist

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Other Bird Species

American Woodcock

Wilson’s Snipe (formerly Common Snipe)

Ruffed Grouse

Mourning Dove

 Media Credit: Richard E. Webster

American Three-toed Wookpecker

 Media Credit: Frank Lambert

Black-backed Wookpecker

(call) Media Credit: Andrew Spencer
(drumming) Media Credit: Chris Parrish

Frogs

Eastern gray treefrog

 Media Credit: United States Geological Survey

Chorus frog

 Media Credit: United States Geological Survey

Spring peeper

Wood frog

Mammals

Coyote

 Media Credit: Neal Herbert (National Park Service)

Red fox

 Media Credit: Shan Burson (National Park Service)

Call broadcasts are effective in locating and studying owls but should not be used indiscriminately. Responding birds may continue to vocalize for some time after the playback ends, and therefore may be more easily located by predators. In addition, frequent and persistent playbacks may affect the normal activities of the owl. Enjoy the experience but please keep disturbance to a minimum. Remember that the health and welfare of each bird is our utmost priority.

Eastern Screech-Owl (EASO) Survey Protocol
Eastern Screech-Owl © Mark Peck
EASO Instructions & Forms

Read and download the Ontario Eastern Screech-Owl Survey here.


Also download a printable version of the EASO dataform here. (Updated February 2021)


Playback for EASO Surveys

Download the EASO Broadcast MP3 file here.

Northern Hawk Owl (NHOW) Survey Protocol
Northern Hawk Owl © Peter Ferguson
NHOW Instructions & Forms

Read and download the Ontario Northern Hawk Owl Survey here.


Also download a printable version of the NHOW dataform here. (Updated February 2021)


Playback for NHOW Surveys

Download the NHOW Broadcast MP3 file here.

Barred (BDOW) and Northern Saw-whet Owl (NSWO) Survey Protocol
Barred Owl © Scott Leslie

 Northern Saw-whet Owl © Kameron Perensovich
BDOW & NSWO Instructions & Forms

Read and download the Ontario Barred and Northern Saw-whet Owl Survey here.


Also download a printable version of the BDOW & NSWO dataform here. (Updated February 2021)


Playback for BDOW & NSWO Surveys

Download the Central Ontario Owl Broadcast MP3 file here.

Great Gray (GGOW) and Boreal Owl (BOOW) Survey Protocol
Great Gray Owl © Jim Richmond

 Boreal Owl © Patti Petersen
GGOW & BOOW Instructions & Forms

Read and download the Ontario Great Gray and Boreal Owl Survey here.


Also download a printable version of the GGOW & BOOW dataform here. (Updated February 2021)


Playback for GGOW & BOOW Surveys

Download the Northern Ontario Owl Broadcast MP3 file here.

Nightjar Survey Protocol
Common Nighthawk © A. Reago & C. McClarren

 Eastern Whip-poor-will © A. Reago & C. McClarren
Nightjar Instructions & Forms

Read and download the Ontario Nightjar Survey here.


Also download a printable version of the Nightjar dataform here. (Updated February 2021)
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