Chance to go owl-spotting in France this weekend

People in France are invited to take part in an owl-spotting event this weekend, in a bid to raise awareness and interest in these nocturnal birds of prey.

The event, called Nuits de la chouette (Owl Nights), was first launched 30 years ago, and now takes place nationwide every two years. This year, it will take place on Saturday, March 22.

The organisers, which include the bird protection group LPO (la Ligue pour la protection des oiseaux) and other environmental protection groups, put on public events for interested owl-spotters, including in regional nature parks.

The events are usually free (but can be ticketed and you may need to register in advance). You can find a map and list of the events in your area of France on the LPO website here (see screenshot below).

Events are set to take place throughout the week, from today (March 18), and some are scheduled for next week.

“These nocturnal outings to observe the owls that are typical of our regions have become part of the French calendar in the same way as the Fête de la Musique or the Nuit de la chauve-souris (bat nights),” said Philippe Carruette, educational manager at the Marquenterre ornithological park in Somme (Hauts-de-France), to France 3.

“It has become a very popular event throughout France.”

Many of the events are attended by owl and nature experts, who can answer questions about the owls’ behaviour, egg-laying season, food sources (mainly rodents), and the difference between species.

The events take place in March, as this is the “period when owls, eagle owls, tawny owls [and] long-eared owls, stir and sing to defend their territory. It’s a territorial cry to protect their future brood.”

Some owls begin laying eggs as early as February. 

“Visitors to the park often tell me how much they regret no longer being able to identify birds. This event is there to help,” he said.

History and nature

Mr Carruette also said that the events can help people understand the role and symbolism of owls throughout history.

“In Western Europe, they are associated with bad omens,” he said. “Conversely, in Greece, the little owl [Athene noctua] is the companion of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and is even depicted on Greek one-euro coins. They are seen as a negative or a positive presence, depending on the culture.”

Some of the events will include a walk in the local area, in a bid to find some specific types of owls. 

For example, Mr Carruette will lead people on a two-hour walk around the area, including in the village of Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont (Somme, Hauts-de-France), in a bid to spot barn owls, which tend to nest in buildings and church steeples. This is in contrast to the tawny owl, which is more often found in urban areas.

Some owls are on the decline, he said, with man-made hedges and farms sometimes threatening food sources for smaller owls.

“[The events] have a magical and unusual side for our visitors, observing the wild world at night,” said Mr Carruette. “More than ever, humans need to regain this contact, because it has been broken.”

He advised people to check availability before heading to a local event (as some are ticketed and many are sold out), and to take warm clothes and something to eat and drink while you observe.

He also said that some people may be able to see other animals during the events, such as foxes, deer, and wild boar.

Types of owls in France

In French, the most common words for ‘owl’ are ‘hibou’ and ‘chouette’. 

These actually describe two different kinds of owls. 

The first tends to refer to owls that have tufts of feathers on top of their heads (this includes most common species in France below); while the second technically refers to a ‘tawny owl’, a specific kind (scientific name Strix aluco) that does not have these same distinctive feathers.

In reality, the words are sometimes used interchangeably to refer to ‘owls’ in general.

More specifically, specialist magazine Le Mag des Animaux states that the most common types of owl in France are:

• The Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo). Mainly found in the Alps and the Massif-Central, and very large. Males typically measure around 60cm in length, and females 70cm, with a weight of up to 2.5kg. They also have large, retractable ear tufts, black and tawny plumage, and orange-yellow eyes. They are carnivorous, and eat small animals including rats, mice, and hedgehogs.
  
  

• The long-eared owl (Asio otus). Known as the little cousin of the Eurasian eagle-owl, but only found in Europe. It is also carnivorous, only hunts at night, and is also known to eat rabbits and small reptiles. Measuring between 30-40 cm long, it weighs between 250 and 300 grams, and has mottled brown, white and black plumage, orange-yellow eyes, and a very expressive face.
  
  

• Eurasian scops owl (Otus scops). A much smaller owl, measuring 20 cm in length and weighing an average of 90 grams. It has two retractable tufts on either side of the head, large yellow eyes and a ‘tree trunk-coloured’ coat. Typically lives in areas with a warm and dry climate, such as the south of France. Only comes out to hunt at dusk, and eats rodents and insects.
  
  

• The short-eared owl (Asio flammeus). Has shorter ear tufts than the long-eared owl, and mottled black, white and tawny plumage, with white and yellowish inner wings. Its eyes are yellow and relatively small for an owl. It measures around 30-40 cm in length, and weighs approximately 350 grams. It is not present in large numbers in France, but most common on the Atlantic coast of Brittany; and hunts rodents, small birds, reptiles, and insects at dusk.