The Québec Nocturnal Owl Survey is undergoing its first season in spring 2008. Surveys are being conducted by a team of dedicated participants to monitor the distribution and abundance of owls, and to inform us on long term population fluctuations of the most abundant species. Participants survey their route one evening in April. Each route consists of 10 stops positioned 2 km apart along secondary roads. Playback of Boreal and Barred Owls calls is used to increase the numbers of detections of owls. This result in about 12 minutes spent at each stop.

For more information on the Québec Nocturnal Owl Survey, or to find out where you may be able to help, contact us acoughlan@bsc-eoc.org or visit http://www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/qchiboux/?lang=en

You can also contact the coordinator: Andrew Coughlan, Bird Studies Canada, 1141, route de l’Église, P.O.Box 10100, 8th floor, Québec (Québec) G1V 4H5. Toll-free number: 1-866-518-0212.

If you are already a participant and have been assigned a survey route, you must create an online profile in order to access the data entry site.