fall/winter search for owls. Can I get some help?

[mr.sharp-photo]

my fiancee and i had an excellent year of birding. we saw everything we wanted to see, minus a scarlet tangier.  so we are quite satisfied.
we really want to find owls/sawhet owls this fall or winter.
if you know of any place around the GTA that has owls - any hints would be greatly appreciated.
I've heard that THicksson Woods is good, but any advice or more detailed info would be great.

if you aren't comfortable posting it on here, please feel free to PM me.

thanks in advance.

[Bluffs Birder]

Hi yogistewart,

Owls are not like other birds we observe.  If you don't receive much of a response to your question, the exact whereabouts of Owls in the GTA and other places for that matter has been a very sensitive subject.  Do a 'search' for Owls on this forum to understand why this is.  The Leslie Street Spit has been very good but I've had little luck with anyone giving me exact locations.  Thickson's Woods is also another good location but again, exact locations can be difficult to get.  Trust between fellow birders and/or photographers is what's needed before such information can be obtained by either party.  It might actually be to your benefit to read about the tree preferences of the Owls and going out and searching those types of trees yourself (watch the ground around the trees for Owl pellets!)  Good luck and I hope you find many this winter.

Walter  

[mr.sharp-photo]

hi walter,
I met Big Frank (raptowatch blog) and Walter (you?) a week ago. they mentioned something similar to me about the "code of silence" regarding owls. was hoping that a personal message by those in the know would avoid the public disclosure fear factor that birders have.

i was hoping that the large # of pictures i post and my interactions with people on this board would hopefully add to the trust. that and the fact that I don't hide that my fiancee's a professional (food and events) photographer, so any bad behaviours by us could negatively impact her business.

[Kin Lau]

The Thickson Woods Great Horned Owls are not hard to find, but most of the time, finding it is hit and miss. The tree are well over 30ft tall, and the two are always there. Just a question of whether you manage to spot them or not. If you get down there in the spring around April/May, there's always lots of birders around, just ask. Most of the time, walk down to the bird sightings box, and look up high around that area, radius of approx 50ft.

Don't forget that they're very good at hiding/blending in.

[Bluffs Birder]

Hey yogistewart,

Yep, you’re right, it’s me from the Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch.  I totally understand your concern for your fiancée’s business.  I hope that those in the know do share via personal messages with you 100%, I was just saying that if they don’t there’s a reason for it, nothing personal towards you or your fiancée at all.  My belief is that nature is for everyone to enjoy (I just wish that more people did!)

The Thickson’s Woods Great Horned Owls are probably the most photographed owls around, they are gorgeous!!!  I hope that this coming spring they choose a nest tree within the woods and not one in a backyard that borders the woods, as they did this past spring.

Walter