Photo Courtesy of Jefferson County Conservation

The Jefferson County Conservation Office is hosting its annual “Owl Prowl” this Friday, February 20th. Participants will learn the different calls of the owls that make Jefferson County their home. They will then practice those calls before venturing into the Jefferson County Nature Center in Fairfield for a short hike, looking and listening for any owls that might be around.

Jefferson County naturalist Austin Roe says the group that participated in this event last year heard four owls calling, with one of them flying right overhead. He says this is a good time to go out looking, as Iowa’s owls are out and about, looking for mates and beginning to nest, “Owls are starting to pair up right now. Actually, they might even have some of their nests right now. And their young will be coming fairly soon, and those young will be throughout the summer. Last year, we did have a great horned owl right in the campground. And so the people who camped here got to watch those owls grow up, which was kind of neat.”

Roe advises attendees to dress for the weather on Friday. The event will begin at 6 p.m, and should last about an hour. Registration is not required.