A Seasonal Refresher on Owl Etiquette

Everyone loves owls, and especially majestic snowy owls when they grace us with their presence in the winter. But constant viewing by nature lovers and wildlife photographers during the day when the owls are trying to rest takes a toll and can lead to their death.

Be kind to owls this winter and follow these recommendations, summarized from the Birds Canada Guidelines.

  • Watch or photograph quietly and from a distance.
  • Do not disturb roosting owls.
  • Move on after a few minutes.
  • If the bird looks towards you, or its behaviour changes in response to your presence, move farther away.
  • Don’t feed owls as they can become habituated, disrupting natural hunting behaviours and putting them at risk for vehicle collisions.
  • Audio playback should not be used to attract owls.
  • Don’t use flash photography or trim foliage/trees.
  • If the owl flies away, don’t follow it or go off trail.

To avoid drawing a crowd, use discretion if sharing information about your observation. If you submit it to eBird, review the guidelines for sensitive species. Do not mention the specific location of the owl.

Toronto Field Naturalists wishes to acknowledge this Land through which we walk. For thousands of years, the Land has been shared by the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe. Toronto is situated on the Land within the Toronto Purchase, Treaty 13, the traditional and treaty Lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This territory is also part of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum, a covenant agreement between Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Wendat peoples and allied nations to peaceably share the land and all its resources. Today, the Land is home to peoples of numerous nations. We are all grateful to have the opportunity to continue to care for and share the beauty of this Land.