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Indiana Owl Week Begins Today: 8 Species Featured Before Festival
VALPARAISO, IN — One of Indiana's smallest and most elusive owls is taking center stage as Humane Indiana Wildlife launches an eight day educational celebration highlighting the state's owl species ah
By Blake Harrison · 2026-11-06T17:34:16.048Z
VALPARAISO, IN — One of Indiana's smallest and most elusive owls is taking center stage as Humane Indiana Wildlife launches an eight day educational celebration highlighting the state's owl species ahead of an upcoming wildlife fundraising event in Porter County.
According to Humane Indiana Wildlife, the organization is beginning its annual Owl Week educational campaign, featuring informational posts about Indiana's eight owl species while counting down to its Festival of Owls fundraiser at the Porter County Expo Center.
The campaign opens with the Northern Saw whet Owl , a tiny nocturnal predator known for its oversized yellow eyes, remarkable camouflage and impressive hunting abilities.
One of North America's Smallest Owls Despite its small size, the Northern Saw whet Owl is a skilled nighttime hunter.
These owls prefer wooded environments containing a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees, often seeking shelter among dense cedars, pines, spruces and tangled vegetation.
Their natural camouflage allows them to blend into surrounding branches, making them extremely difficult to spot.
Unlike many larger owl species, saw whet owls frequently roost relatively close to the ground, sometimes just 5 to 15 feet above the forest floor.
They often remain motionless during daylight hours to avoid attracting attention.
Indiana Residents Can Help Researchers Humane Indiana Wildlife also highlighted opportunities for residents to learn about owl migration and conservation.
Indiana Audubon's Project Owlnet offers public owl banding programs during fall migration at Indiana Dunes, providing educational opportunities focused on owl movements, age and survival.
The organization plans to feature additional owl species throughout its eight day campaign.
Festival of Owls Approaching The educational series leads into Humane Indiana Wildlife's Festival of Owls fundraising event at the Porter County Expo Center.
Residents interested in learning more about Indiana's native owls, wildlife rehabilitation and conservation efforts can follow Humane Indiana Wildlife for additional educational posts and event information.
The organization encourages residents to check its page for updates and opportunities to learn about these elusive birds.