MDC invites the public to learn about owls at Runge Nature Center Jan. 20

 Participants will learn about owls before observing owls in their natural habitat.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites the public to learn about owls at Runge Nature Center Jan. 20 from 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Participants will learn through presentations about owls, owl pellet dissection, and naturalist-led owl prowls. Owl presentations and prowls will begin every half hour from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The owl prowls, which are optional, will include a short hike on the nature center’s grounds so be sure to dress for the weather and bring a flashlight.

The University of Missouri’s Raptor Rehab will be bringing several species of owls for participants to view up close before their hike.

This event is free to the public and open to all ages with no prior registration necessary. Questions can be directed to Sarah Easton at sarah.easton@mdc.mo.gov. Runge Nature Center is located at 330 Commerce Drive in Jefferson City.

Prowl for owls Jan. 21 at MDC’s Busch Conservation Area

 This free, MDC-lead evening excursion will help visitors learn about and experience these night raptors first-hand.

St. CHARLES, Mo.—Hoots, howls, laughs, screams, and eerie whinnies . . . these are some of the mysterious sounds that owls can make.  Exactly who is creating all this racket, and why?

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will help you discover the answers at an Owl Prowl program held at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area on Friday, Jan. 21 from 6-8 p.m.  The free program is open to all ages.  This event is a reschedule of the Owl Prowl that was cancelled on Jan. 14 due to weather.

The still, winter nights of January are perfect for prowling for these amazing raptors.  This program will begin indoors for an educational classroom presentation.  Visitors will learn why owls are such effective nighttime hunters.  They’ll also find what they’re making so much noise about this time of year.  Participants will then journey outside for a short walk and some possible close encounters as MDC naturalists attempt to entice owls to fly in and talk.  Visitors may encounter, barred, great horned, or perhaps even screech owls.

Participants should bring a flashlight or head lamp and dress for the weather, wear comfortable walking shoes, and be prepared to spend time outside during the second half of the program.

While the Owl Prowl is a free program, advanced online registration is required at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4ZN.

The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area is in St. Charles at 2360 Highway D, about two miles west of Highway 94. 

As this is an in-person activity, MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines.  Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate for the in-person activity. 

Program registrants should note that families now have the option to link their children’s accounts to their own which will streamline the program registration process.  Once a group account is set up, parents will be able to register their children to an event without having to logoff and login for each person.  This allows parents to register an entire family or select family members to an event at the same time.