Owling With Kids

Winter is the best time to go owling with your kids since most owls are active. Owl watching is a great opportunity to learn about birds, to get outside with your kids, and to find the peace and magic that happens when you connect with nature.

For a family that likes to hike and feels at peace in nature, owling with your kids can be a wonderful way to connect, learn, and get outside together. Owls are most active in the late fall through the winter, so this is a great outdoor winter activity for the whole family, including teens.

Owls have a special place in many of our kids’ hearts, whether from their favorite stories, games, or fandoms. Owls have magic, wisdom, and peace that speak to us. 

Taking kids owling is a fun activity any time of year, although it’s easiest to observe them in the wintertime. The feeling your child will get when they witness these majestic creatures is an experience they will remember for life.

How to Get Started

Learning how to ethically owl watch is science, magic, and lore all at once. 

The best way to prepare your kids for an outdoor owl-finding adventure is to introduce them to the topic with books and online resources. Here are a few to get started:

• Owling: Enter The World of The Mysterious Birds of The Night
• Audubon for Kids: All About Owls
• National Geographic Readers: Owls
• Watch the live owl cam at the International Owl Center

If your kids are too small or busy to take them out on a winter evening, another option is to make an owl box to put up in your yard or in a wooded area nearby to make observation easier.

How to Go Owling With Kids

When taking kids owling, the most important lesson of the day is how to owl watch ethically. Here are some good rules of thumb about respecting owls to share with your kids: 

• Don’t get too close. If an owl is looking at you frequently, then give them space. 
• Don’t enter an open area where an owl is hunting for prey. 
• Use binoculars so you can stay a respectful distance away.
• Hide behind a tree to minimize your presence. 
• Don’t try to feed the owl.
• Keep quiet. 
• Don’t bring your dog. They can chase off and scare owls and other wildlife. 
• Take care not to disturb other wildlife or the ecosystem that owls rely on. 

If your kiddo likes nature scavenger hunts, make one so they can help watch for signs of owls. Here’s what kids of any age can help you look for to tell if an owl is nearby.

Look for whitewash (owl excrement) on the tree trunks. This is a great sign for kids to look for because it can be lower and closer to their eye level. On a tree trunk, it looks like sap dripping down but is white. At the base of a tree, it looks like white splotches.

Look for owl pellets on the ground. An owl pellet is the indigestible parts of the bird’s prey, such as bones, fur, and teeth. They are round and usually grey. Owl pellets are super interesting to bring home and dissect. However, handle them cautiously because they can contain harmful bacteria, such as salmonella. 

Look for owl feathers, which are usually soft and fuzzy and often have stripes on one side. They can range in color, so be aware of what types of owl you might find in your region. 

Look up in the trees. Owls don’t make their nests, so they tend to occupy the empty nests of other birds. Be cautious of nesting owls. They are protective and need space. 

Look in the winter. When trees are bare, it is easier to see owls, providing more opportunities to see rare ones. 

Look in conifer trees. Some common owls, like barred owls and great horned owls, like hanging out in conifer trees, which grow pretty much everywhere in the United States.

Look for Great Horned Owls since they are one of the most common species in the US and are easy to spot. They have long tufts of feathers that resemble ears and yellow eyes. Great Horned Owls are adaptable birds and can live in forests, wetlands, deserts, grasslands, and cities. 

Listen for hoots, especially during fall time. While not all owls hoot, it is a sure way to know there’s one near if you hear a predictable “hoot” sound!

When to Watch For Owls

Timing is an important factor when hoping to see these majestic and primarily nocturnal birds, particularly when bringing kids along. Some owls can be observed year-round, while others are mainly seen in the winter. 

Given the right circumstances, seeing an owl any time of day is possible. However, your best bet will be at either dawn or dusk, when they are most vocal and easier to spot.

In my experience, running in the woods at dawn is the most peaceful experience I’ve ever had. I do it often and on purpose, to many of my friend’s dismay. When you know the magic for yourself, you’ll understand. Seeing an owl swoop down just a few feet in front of me, flying from one tree to another, is one of the most amazing and magical solo experiences I’ve ever had. 

Peace comes in many forms, and the forest waking up is one of them. Sharing the love of the woods in the morning, owls, and other creatures in it with your kids will live with them throughout their lives. 

Dress warmly, and try to head out at dawn or dusk, making sure to give yourself some time if it’s at dusk. The night can sneak up on you in the woods, so bring a flashlight for your way out. 

Late fall through April is the best time to see owls. However, they are around all year, and some can be spotted mid-day. Some owls are more active in the daytime, like the burrowing pygmy owl. For young children, daytime may work best!

Lastly, note that owls don’t hunt when it is actively raining. Check your local weather and head out owl-watching after a rain. It’s more likely to see owl activity then since they’ll be hunting for prey, especially if it happens to be during dawn or dusk. Wear your rain boots!

More Owling Tips

Look at your local Audubon Society to see if they host any owl watching group walks for families. It’s a great way to have a guided adventure and learn a whole lot about these beautiful and mystical creatures. 

If you and your family are headed out when it’s cold, bring a thermos of hot tea to warm up. It’s also a good idea to bring some trail mix or another no-garbage snack that is quiet to eat. 

Go owl watching in whatever way works for your family. Don’t feel confined to dawn or dusk and fall or winter. If it needs to be in between preschool and nap time, that’s ok! Once you learn how you and your kids will spot these quiet and beautiful birds!

More Fun Nature Activities with Kids

Here are more ways to get your child excited about spending time in the great outdoors:
Stargazing with Kids
Nature Scavenger Hunt Printables
DIY Organic Bird Feeder
Backyard Bug Count Activity
Create a Wildlife Garden
Fairy Garden Ideas for a Magical Backyard
Nature Themed Coloring Pages