Northern spotted owl

Welcome to the northern spotted owl webcam!

Our owl webcam is live with two chicks in the nest!

Chick B hatched on April 13, 2026, and Chick C on April 15, 2026. They are not genetic siblings and are being raised by well-experienced foster parents, Einstein and Zalea. This is the fourth year in a row that we’re able to watch these super-parents in action!

Chick B is male and has a green spot on his head, marked with a non-toxic marker. Chick C is female and she has a purple spot on her head. Zalea has been busy preening all the colour off their heads, so they may be difficult to tell apart now!

Keep a close eye on the webcam – the chicks will only be in the nest for a few weeks! Watch as Einstein brings food to the nest while Zalea protects the chicks until they are ready to fledge. The owls will be the most active in the mornings and evenings but check out their night activity as well.

The northern spotted owl is one of Canada’s most endangered species with less than five wild individuals left in British Columbia. The webcam is brought to you by the FWCP and the Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program (NSOBP).

Recovery of these endangered owls is one of the priority actions outlined in our Bridge-Seton Watershed Action Plan, and it is just one of 77 fish and wildlife projects the FWCP is funding, for more than $12 million, in 2026–2027. 

Northern spotted owl facts

• The northern spotted owl is the rarest owl in Canada.
• It’s one of three sub-species of spotted owl.
• They prefer old-growth forests habitats.
• It’s among the largest owls in North America (40-48 cm long).
• It typically lays two to three eggs per clutch.
• It gets its name from the distinct spots on its head and back.
• The typical call is a four-note “who hoo hoo whoo.”
• Strix occidentalis caurina is the scientific name for this species.
• This captive breeding program is a critical part of the recovery effort of this owl in Canada.

FWCP and the Northern Spotted Owl Captive Breeding Program

One of the reasons the northern spotted owl is at risk in Canada is due to habitat loss resulting from a variety of human activities such as timber harvesting and human settlement, including the creation of reservoirs. That’s why FWCP is involved: our mission is to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife impacted by BC Hydro dams. In addition to funding the breeding program, the FWCP has also funded research and monitoring on northern spotted owls. Subscribe and stay informed about FWCP grants, and the projects we fund, including this one. If you have questions about the FWCP, please ask us: fwcp@bchydro.com.

The Northern Spotted Owl Captive Breeding Program’s objective is to release captive-raised owls into protected habitats, with the goal of establishing a viable self-sustaining population of spotted owls within the Lillooet area.

The Northern Spotted Owl Captive Breeding Program is funded by BC Hydro, the British Columbia Conservation Foundation, the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program, INNERGEX, the Government of Canada, and the Province of B.C.