Snowy Owl drawing by Kelly Ballantyne
This article was originally posted on December 8, 2020. Minor edits have been made.
Owls are compelling creatures; there is something strongly expressive and intelligent in their eyes, and their commanding presence makes owls a favorite of birders and non-birders alike. As a result, many people are motivated to find owls in their natural habitat, and to get a closer look at these fascinating birds.
The presence of humans can be stressful for owls, so it’s important to understand more about owls and follow simple guidelines to ensure their safety.
Owls rely on hunting to feed themselves and their young, and any disruption to this hunting effort means they (or their family) may miss a meal or more. When you view owls too close, you are interfering with both the owls and their prey, and they simply can’t catch what they need to survive when humans are in the way. Even one missed meal is not easy to make up, especially when prey is scarce. If you’re watching owls hunt over an open field, stay at the edge of the field.
Owls convey a sense of strength and calm but your human presence, when too close, greatly affects the stress levels of owls. They are finely tuned creatures that are already on high alert, and hungry, spending the majority of their waking hours hunting for food. Any additional stimulus, such as visual or auditory interference from nearby humans talking, with binoculars or cameras, or in running cars, can cause damaging fatigue and loss of energy. This in turn makes it more difficult to find food to feed themselves and often their young, and to stay warm. So, be quiet when watching owls and stay in the background, in a blind, or behind a tree.
This time of year is critical for local owl species, some of who are courting and nest-building from December through April in nearby forest preserves or even in local parks or yards. Also around this time of year in Chicago, Snowy Owls occasionally arrive from the Arctic to hunt and survive in open fields and near Lake Michigan. Snowy Owls are especially vulnerable to human disruption due to their highly visible white plumage and their presence during the day. Snowy Owls are especially susceptible to stress for a few reasons. First, they’ve traveled more than 2,000 miles from the Arctic, not for fun but for survival. And, often they are younger yearling owls with less experience and weaker stamina than adults. They may appear robust and healthy but many are weak from dehydration and fatigue from their long trip.
Here are some guidelines for ethical owl viewing and photography:
Don’t get too close – if the owl looks at you frequently, you’re too close.
Stay on “the sidelines” and don’t enter an open area where an owl is hunting.
Use binoculars or a scope for viewing and a telephoto lens for photography.
Use a blind to minimize your presence - your car or even just hide behind a tree.
Do not intentionally “flush” an owl.
If you use audio recordings, minimize their impact on birds, and follow the ABA Code of Birding Ethics.
Use discretion when sharing the location of an owl; usually it’s best to provide details only to people you can trust to treat the owl safely.
Do not feed owls anything such mice, which may cause them to get used to people and can also result in collisions with cars and buildings.
Avoid the use of flash photography, especially after dark.
Eliminate noise to avoid interfering with a bird’s auditory hunting - if you’re viewing from a car, turn off the engine; if you’re with others, talk in a whisper only when necessary.
If you spot an injured owl, contact the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors 773-988-1867.
Additional Resources
Snowy Owl Viewing Ethics - American Birding Association
How To Respectfully Photograph and Observe Owls - The International Owl Center
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