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How to Be a Successful Owl Watcher

There are 19 breeding species of owl that can be found in North America and Canada. Although owl watching requires a lot of patience, and can often entail long periods of sitting and waiting, your reward is seeing a magnificent creature in its natural habitat. In order to be successful in watching owls, there are a few things you need to do and find out.

Things You'll Need

Dark clothes
Binoculars (must work in low light)

Instructions

- 1
  Research the area you're hoping to watch owls in. By talking to local wildlife groups you may be able to find out where the best spot is to see owls. Get to know the area in the daytime so you won't get disoriented if you go there at night.
- 2
  Find out about the owl or owls you're likely to see in the area. By researching the species of owl you're going to see, you can find out when to look for it -- most owls are nocturnal, but not all of them, so learn whether you should be looking for this bird during the day or the night.
- 3
  Wear dark clothes, especially if you're owl watching at night. Make sure your clothes don't rustle too much or make noise when you move, as this could scare off the owls.
- 4
  Bring a pair of binoculars that work well in low light, for evening and nighttime use. They will allow you to get a better view of any owls from afar.
- 5
  Get to your observation point before it gets dark, if you're owl watching at night, so your eyes can become accustomed to seeing in low light. Once you reach your observation point, stay as still and quiet as possible.

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