Webinar: Owl Monitoring and Habitat Models
On behalf of the FRIAA-funded Forest Knowledge Extension program hosted by West Fraser, we’re excited to share the second session of our Lunch & Learn webinar series! In this 2nd webinar, we discussed the topics of Nocturnal owl monitoring and Barred Owl habitat model testing with Lisa Takats Priestley.
When:
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025; 12:00–1:00 pm MST
What to Expect:
Lunch & Learn Program: Quick Refresher
Presentation from Lisa Takats Priestley, Biologist (STRIX Ecological Consulting)
Live, interactive Q&A session
About our Presenter:
Lisa Takats Priestly (STRIX Ecological Consulting) has been involved in wildlife research and monitoring for over 30 years. Her Master’s thesis was on the ecology of Barred Owls in the foothills of Alberta through the Renewable Resources Department. Lisa was Executive Director of Beaverhill Bird Observatory (BBO) for 10 years, and her work includes leading development of the Guidelines for Nocturnal Owl Monitoring in North America and initiating the Alberta Nocturnal Owl Survey. Lisa and her husband incorporated STRIX Ecological Consulting in 2005, where her work includes long-term forest and wetland bird and owl monitoring programs, Species at Risk projects, and developing migratory bird risk management tools for the forest industry in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.
Abstract:
Understanding owl populations and habitat preference is key to responsible forest and wildlife management in Alberta. Owls can serve as indicators of the health of forests, requiring nesting structures, habitat for hunting and roosting, and healthy prey populations.
This webinar will share findings from a long-term nocturnal owl monitoring program conducted within West Fraser’s Slave Lake, Edson, Hinton, Sundre, and Blue Ridge Forest Management Areas (FMAs) and a Barred Owl habitat model testing project conducted within West Fraser’s Slave Lake, Hinton, and Edson FMAs. Initiated in 2018 in collaboration with STRIX Ecological, the project uses standardized callback surveys and habitat modeling to study owl distribution, relative abundance, and breeding abundance. Recent work includes continued nocturnal (nighttime) monitoring, a pilot diurnal (daytime) survey, comparisons across other FMAs, and testing the Barred Owl habitat model developed by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas.
The session will highlight monitoring program findings to date, early insights into Barred Owl habitat selection, and how these findings can inform future forest management planning.
Related Downloads
Webinar Recording