Owl Watching Expedition in the Okanagan Valley
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Owls have fascinated me since childhood, especially after reading and watching the Harry Potter series. Recently, I joined an Owls of the Okanagan expedition with a group of professional bird watchers. It was a fully guided tour along the beautiful Mission Creek trail. I took a bus to the trail and waited at the meeting point for the host and other participants to arrive. Once our host, Kaelin, and the rest of the group gathered, he asked everyone to introduce themselves and share when they had last seen an owl.
We began the walk with an introduction to the different owl species found in the Okanagan Valley and how environmental changes and shifts in ecosystems have influenced wildlife in the region. Kaelin explained many interesting facts about owl behavior, including the types of trees they prefer for nesting, their diet, and their daily habits. As we started walking, he pointed out the Mission Creek river and described the variety of ecosystems surrounding it. Soon, the trail led us into a dense forest filled with tall trees and natural vegetation.
Inside the forest, we began searching for owl nests, especially in cottonwood trees. We learned that owls often nest in holes created by woodpeckers usually where a branch has broken and a medium-sized cavity forms in the trunk. Once the woodpecker leaves, owls sometimes take over the space. After carefully scanning the trees, we spotted a Western Screech-Owl resting on a branch. The small grey owl was quietly sunbathing with its eyes closed, as owls sometimes sit facing the sun during the evening. Everyone used binoculars to observe it, and I borrowed the host’s device to take a closer look at the fluffy little bird. After watching the owl for a while, we continued further into the forest and spotted other birds, including the American Robin, Blue Jay, Mountain Chickadee, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. I could not click a photo of the owl as it was at a higher point of the tree.
Our host also demonstrated what he called the “grammar” of bird communication. He imitated owl calls and asked us to observe how the surrounding birds reacted. Almost immediately, the nearby birds began chirping loudly, as if warning each other that a predator was present. Some birds even flew quickly from one area to another when Kaelin made the owl sounds. Watching this natural communication between birds was a unique and memorable experience. We continued searching for other owls but did not spot another one. Along the way, the host also showed us the American Red Squirrel and the Eastern Gray Squirrel, explaining why people should not feed them peanuts, as it can increase the need of protien leading to killing and eating other squirrels. Around us were red bushes, cedar trees, wild berries, pine trees, and tall grasses.
As the trek came to an end, we gathered to ask questions. I asked Kaelin if he had ever witnessed an unusual behavior from an owl. He mentioned that he had not seen anything particularly strange, but he once observed a female Falcon attack and kill an owl from about six feet above after the owl had eaten her chicks. The host shared many fascinating insights about the environment and ecosystem of the Okanagan Valley. Others in the group asked how to locate owls in the wild, how long they live, and many other questions. The easy trail took about two hours to complete while we explored the forest and observed birds and wildlife.
It was a wonderful experience meeting new people and joining a nature trek with strangers who shared the same curiosity about wildlife. Spending time quietly observing owls and birds of the valley made the trip truly memorable. Until next time, stay safe and healthy.
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