Kaitie Fraser
Environment Reporter

The Humber Arboretum maintains a viable habitat for several owl species, providing a special opportunity for the public to see – and even photograph them.

“There are four types of owls in the Arboretum and we haven’t seen all of them yet,” said Fiona Street, a nature interpreter at the Arb’s Centre for Urban Ecology.

“We’re estimating there are about 20 to 30 owls in the Arboretum right now, but it’s hard to tell,” said Street.

Street explained that the four species of owl that reside in the Arb are the Great Horned, the Saw-Whet, the Long Eared and the Screech owl. “The largest is the great horned owl and the smallest is the saw-whet owl,” said Street.

There’s owl-friendly tree cover, and staff work hard to get the public to respect owls’ habitats so that they will stay, she added.

She advises photographers to not to get too close and to cover the flash on their camera with a proper red light, so the owls don’t get scared off.

“This year, north and central Ontario populations of owls have been very good,” said Jody Allair, a biologist and science educator at Bird Studies Canada, in Port Rowan, Ont.

Bird Studies Canada volunteers monitor populations for the scientists and the natural ebb and flow of populations has become recognizable over the last few decades, said Allair.

“This is good because we can see and monitor the populations and recognize if there is a catastrophic decline so we can act on it before it is too late,” said Allair.

Bob Kortright, president of the Toronto Field Naturalists, told Et Cetera in an email that the preservation of our Toronto parks, especially forest areas, is important for owls to survive in the city. He acknowledges that some owl species, such as the Long Eared, need open areas – particularly in the winter.

The Arb has many dense, coniferous trees which are appealing for the owls to nest in, said Street. To spot an owl, Street looks to the bottom of trees for pellets, which are “pieces of fur and bones the owls can’t digest.”

Street led the Arboretum’s Owl Prowl last week, an annual event that guides people to some of the owls’ nesting places. “They are easier to see during the day when they are roosting.”