Boreal Owl Research

The Boreal Owl is a small owl that nests in the spruce-fir forests in Colorado and a few other western states.

We have been studying them for several years and documented the first active nest in RMNP in 2019.

The research that members of CARRI is doing with Boreal Owls has answered a number of questions:

  1. Boreal Owls do nest within Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). The first active nest was found by members of CARRI in 2019!

  2. Boreal and Northern Saw-whet Owls live in harmony with one another, RMNP.

  3. We capture Boreal Owls within RMNP every fall, yet have never recaptured a banded bird.

  4. During nesting, only male Boreal Owls give the distinctive winnowing call. The female gives a finch-like chirp.

  5. Boreal Owls only defend the nest tree, not a territory.

  6. Boreal Owls in RMNP prey upon voles, mice, gophers, shrews, and birds up to the size of American Robins.

  7. In 2021, During our fall banding season, we captured and banded 9 Boreal Owls in RMNP, which was the most that we have ever captured ever in a single year.

Below are some questions about this species that have yet been answered

  1. Where do Boreal Owls move to in the fall?

  2. What is the lowest elevation that Boreal Owls can be found nesting?

The video below is of the first ever Boreal Owlet in Rocky Mountain National Park!

It was captured in June 2019

Below is a video of a male vocalizing Owl vocalizing

Boreal Owl Band Number 1286-62312 Banded 9/30/23 at Hidden Valley in RMNP, recaptured same location 9/16/24.