Staff member holding a spotted owl egg in gloved hands.

Spotted owl chick held by a staff member wearing gloves.

Juvenile spotted owl behind a tree snag with its mouth open.

What We Do

The Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program's mission is to restore the population of northern spotted owls across their range in British Columbia through conservation breeding and release into protected habitat. With less than six wild individuals remaining in Canada, the northern spotted owl is one of the most endangered species.

We are a non-profit project under the British Columbia Conservation Foundation. Our facility is located on 25 acres of semi-forested land in Langley, British Columbia within the unceded territory of Kwantlen First Nation. We have over 30 aviaries for owls and multiple buildings. The location of our facility is not made public for the safety of the owls and to minimize disturbance.

There are three primary ways we maximize the production of spotted owl eggs and chicks: artificial incubation, double clutching, and hand-raising. Our team uses these techniques while honouring the five domains of animal welfare and providing compassionate care.

Artificial incubation allows us to closely monitor the humidity, temperature, and rotations of the eggs in a controlled and clean environment.

When spotted owls start laying eggs in March, staff switch them out for “dummy” eggs that the female keeps warm while her eggs are artificially incubated. This respectful transition helps maintain a connection between the female and a future chick, and allows the female to continue her natural behaviours.

Staff monitor the development of each egg by “candling” with a flashlight to see the internal structures and adjust incubator settings according to the needs of each egg. By replicating the nurturing conditions that female spotted owls provide, we reduce the risk of breakage and optimize their chances of hatching successfully.

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Double clutching maximizes the reproductive potential of each owl while respecting their natural, annual breeding patterns. In the wild, female spotted owls typically only lay 1-3 eggs every spring in a single group or clutch. If a nest fails due to predation or disease, the female will re-nest if there is enough food and time left in the season.

We simulate this by artificially incubating all the eggs from the first clutch and creating the opportunity for the female to lay another 1-3 eggs. Double clutching can double the number of eggs, offers new pairs more time to bond successfully, and recognizes the resilience and adaptability of spotted owls.

Spotted owl chicks are hand-raised by trained staff for approximately 10-14 days. Chicks are altricial (born helpless, requiring significant care) and incredibly vulnerable in the first days of their life, so hand-raising allows us to monitor them 24/7, track their growth, and provide care to any struggling or sick individuals. To foster a chick's connection with the land and its relatives, chicks are housed with owl puppets or similarly aged chicks with spotted owl vocalizations and nature sounds playing in the background.

Once chicks are strong and healthy, they are returned to a nest so that parent owls can raise the chicks and instill their lifelong teachings. Female spotted owls that are sitting on dummy eggs accept chicks regardless of their age or biological connection. Spotted owls have an innate instinct to care for their young relatives.

New families are monitored remotely using our nest cameras. We monitor when a chick is being fed, interactions between a chick and its parents, and developmental milestones - all with minimal disturbance to the owls and their way of life.

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We provide a safe and controlled environment where the owls can breed without the pressures and threats they may face in the wild. Maintaining genetic diversity is key for the health and resilience of future owl generations. Pairs are determined based on DNA testing, and strong life-long bonds between individuals can take years to develop. We are hopeful that new mated pairs will form each year as they develop positive signs of courtship.

Three staff members looking at a spotted owl egg, one holding up a flashlight to the egg.

Spotted owl egg lit up by flashlight with embryo inside.

At the NSOBP, we also have a pair of barred owls that breed every year. Although barred owls are an invasive species, their close relation to spotted owls offers valuable learning opportunities and insight. Barred owl eggs undergo the same incubation process as spotted owl eggs to help us test our methodologies and refine our techniques. Barred owl chicks then offer inexperienced spotted owls the opportunity to raise a chick.