Owl Prowls

Owl Prowls & Banding

The mission of the International Festival of Owls is to:

- spark a personal connection to owls and the environments we share with them

- provide financial support for the Houston Nature Center

- stimulate tourism in the Houston area.

On Friday evening we send out several buses, each with an expert owl caller aboard (Larry Dolphin, Steve Weston and David Johnson), to give you the experience of seeing and/or hearing wild owls. Species that are most often heard are Barred and Eastern Screech-Owls, but Northern Saw-whet Owls, Great Horned Owls and even Long-eared Owls are also possible. Keep in mind that these are wild owls and there are no guarantees. Moon phase, cloud cover, precipitation, and more will likely affect the owls' response.

In 2010 each owl prowl bus will also stop at a temporary Northern Saw-whet Owl banding station operated by Quarry Hill Nature Center. See first hand how researchers catch owls, and if we're lucky you'll also get to see how they're banded.

DRESS WARMLY!!! Long underwear, boots, down jackets, and wool sweaters, hats and mittens are not overkill. Standing still listening for owls, even when it's 40 F outside, will chill almost anyone to the bone. "Quiet" clothes are preferable to clothes that make noise when you move.

PLEASE NOTE: Actively calling owls like this is an agitation to wild owls. The owls perceive the calling as an intruder in their territory, which is why they respond. No two buses stop in the same locations to assure the owls are not overly stressed, and nearly every stop is on or near remote private property (with permission), so these owls are not likely to be bothered again during the course of the year.

If you chose to try actively calling owls on your own, either with playback or with your own voice, DO NOT do it repeatedly in the same owl's territory. Some public lands (like national parks) may also forbid active calling to avoid stressing the birds.

Friday, March 5, leave from elementary school

8:00 & 8:10 PM - family buses

8:15 PM - adult only bus

No pre-registration is necessary. An admission button is required.

website hosted by The Owl Pages

Please note that some activities require pre-registration and separate fees. These are noted on the individual activity pages, the schedule page, and when registering.