A hoot at Pinelands Speaker Series

The Pinelands Commission has been hosting free presentations this summer as part of its Pinelands Speaker Series. All are held at the commissions’ headquarters and the Richard J. Sullivan Center for Environmental Policy and Education in New Lisbon.

The five-part series began back in mid-June with a presentation on ticks in New Jersey, and its most recent presentation on Eastern box turtles was held on August 6. 

On July 23, the third installment of the series explored the owls of New Jersey. Pinelands Commission’s own research scientist Tyler Christensen gave the presentation to more than 40 attendees.

Christensen only joined the Pinelands Commission earlier this year, however, he has spent the last 12 years of his career studying owls and wild birds. 

He is a founding member of the Wild Bird Research Group, a non-profit organization that study the migration and ecology of birds through tracking and monitoring their birds with banding techniques. The organization also oversees a successful owl monitoring program that studies the migration patterns of owls in eastern North America. 

“Why study owls? First off, I’ve always been captivated by owls. I find them very interesting,” he said at the presentation. “They look strange. You don’t get to see them that often, (which makes) encounters with owls very special.

“But from a research perspective, they’re also interesting because they’re relatively poorly studied,” he continued. “They’re cryptic, they’re highly secretive, (and) most of the species are nocturnal.” 

These qualities of owls make them more challenging to study, which is why there is less research on owls compared to some other wild birds. Because of this, researchers are still looking for answers to pretty basic questions, such as where they come from, where they live, how they function biologically, what their needs are, and how conservation plays a role in their lives. 

Christensen said that there are about 250 species of owls in the world, and only 19 of them are found in North America. There are only about eight species of owls in New Jersey. 

Snowy owls, great horned owls, barn owls, barred owls, long-eared owls, short-eared owls, Eastern screech owls and Northern saw-whet owls live in the state. Snowy, long-eared, short-eared, and Northern saw-whet owls are endangered or of special concern in the state. Additionally, they are migratory, meaning they are typically only in the state during the winter. 

Christensen made his presentation interactive. He played recordings of owl noises and calls, many of which sound strange and amusing. Some participants shared they had heard similar sounds near their homes or while out exploring in the Pinelands. 

The most common owl sound heard in the Pinelands is a distinctive, low hoot that sounds like the phrase “Who cooks for you?” This comes from the barred owl, which occupies a good deal of space here in wet, swampy areas of the Pinelands. 

However, Christensen said that some of the biggest threats to barred owls is the lack of suitable nesting habitats. These owls tend to require cavity nesting, meaning they like to find shelter inside natural cavities, like inside of a tree or log. 

Human disturbance can negatively impact the local owls. If you ever want to search for owls, he recommends doing so gently and with caution. Some birders and photographers do not consider the vulnerability of owls and their need to remain in their natural habitat. Remaining quiet, keeping away from their habitats and moving slowly can be ways to considerately behave around owls. 

Attendees were eager to learn about the marvels of owls and their local presence. Many even stayed back to continue asking Christensen questions after the event had concluded. 

The final presentation in the Pinelands Speaker Series is on Thursday, September 3 at 2 p.m. It will cover frog diversity and adaptation, and it will be presented by another Pinelands Commission research scientist, Christine Healy.