Sign up. Check to see if nature centers near you are offering nighttime owl prowls. If so, find out when and where, and join in! If not, head out with family and friends.

Whooo’s There? Before you go, look in a bird field guide to find out which owls live in your area and where to look for them. A librarian can help you. Also go online to find some guides (see below) and listen to recorded owl calls.

• owlinstitute.org and click on "Owl ID Guide."
• birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds and click on "Bird Guide" and then search for each owl by name.
• enature.com and click on "Birds" under "FieldGuides" and then on "Owls."

Night Noise: In the evening, listen for owls hooting, tooting, whistling, or trilling. Late winter and early spring are usually the best times to hear owls calling for mates..

Give a Hoot: While you’re out looking for owls, imitate their calls and see if any calls back to you.

Eye Spy: Return during the day to places where you heard owls calling. Look for whitewash (owl droppings), owl pellets, and owl feathers. If you find some, check carefully up in the trees. There might be an owl tucked next to the trunk or perched on a limb.

Stick Figures: Keep track of trees in the area that have stick nests in them. They’re easier to see before leaves start coming out in spring. Go back to those trees in late spring to see if an owl mom is using any of them. Take binoculars so you don’t have to get so close that you disturb her.

Take Note: Keep owl-prowling notes in a field journal. Sketch a map of any owl hot spot you find and keep track of what you discover there over time. Use your field notes again next year to see if owls start a new family in the same area.