| "Who's Whoo-ing" In Your Backyard? |
| A Citizen Science Study of Suburban Owls |
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
Register by sending us an email with your name and address to owlcall@mianus.org.
STEP 2
Download the call tracks for eastern screech owls and barred owls from our Download page and burn them
to a CD or onto an ipod. (Great-horns are optional.)
to a CD or onto an ipod. (Great-horns are optional.)
STEP 3
IMPORTANT: Read about the project on our 'About' page FIRST.
STEP 4
Set up your CD player/boombox so that it projects outward into an open area (e.g., not pointing at a wall).
Facing a woodlot or other greenspace is better than facing into the road, but if you live in a densely
populated area, we are still interested in your results.
Facing a woodlot or other greenspace is better than facing into the road, but if you live in a densely
populated area, we are still interested in your results.
Wait 2 days or so. Choose the other species to survey. Complete steps 1 - 13 for this species.
Remember: Surveys for each species must be done on different nights.
Remember: Surveys for each species must be done on different nights.
STEP 5
Volume should be set loud, but not so loud as to cause distortion in the speakers. (Distortion is occurring
when you hear buzzing or "resonating" in the speaker output.) The boombox you are using should be
powerful enough to be used in an outdoor setting (any portable players that take C or D batteries are fine).
Note some older boom boxes can't play burned CD's.
when you hear buzzing or "resonating" in the speaker output.) The boombox you are using should be
powerful enough to be used in an outdoor setting (any portable players that take C or D batteries are fine).
Note some older boom boxes can't play burned CD's.
Wait for us to respond with the username and password needed to download the owl calls from our website.
Listen to the tracks beforehand to get an idea of what to listen for. When you play the recorded calls, any
owls in the area will likely respond to them. The wild owls will sound very similar, if not identical, to the calls
you are playing on your CD player. Occasionally, owls respond to calls of another species. Morning Doves'
calls are often mistaken for owl calls, so listen to its call once before you start surveying for owls also.
owls in the area will likely respond to them. The wild owls will sound very similar, if not identical, to the calls
you are playing on your CD player. Occasionally, owls respond to calls of another species. Morning Doves'
calls are often mistaken for owl calls, so listen to its call once before you start surveying for owls also.
Wait until dark. Remember, these owls are all generally nocturnal, so only do your surveys at night.
Play recorded owl calls for 10 minutes while listening for responses. Listen for the entire 10 minutes of the
track. In our experience, owls tend to respond around the 7 - 8 minute mark. If there is no response, that
is still vital data, and you will still be contributing to the study just as much as a positive response.
track. In our experience, owls tend to respond around the 7 - 8 minute mark. If there is no response, that
is still vital data, and you will still be contributing to the study just as much as a positive response.
Choose one species to survey.
That's it! Complete steps 1 - 12 for the same species on another night. Conduct 3 surveys for this species
each season. The seasons are Spring (March - May), Summer (June - August), Fall (September to
November), and Winter (December - February).
each season. The seasons are Spring (March - May), Summer (June - August), Fall (September to
November), and Winter (December - February).
STEP 6
STEP 7
STEP 8
STEP 9
STEP 10
Record whether or not you get a response.
STEP 11
STEP 12
STEP 14
STEP 13
Submit your data via the form linked on this website or use the data sheet given to you by your school. If
you have trouble with the form, give us a call.
you have trouble with the form, give us a call.
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |