Vancouver park owls a big hoot for wildlife lovers

They've been flocking to Vancouver's Westside by the hundreds, armed with binoculars, cellphones, cameras and giant telephoto lenses, all in the hope of capturing a glimpse or photo of the city's newest celebrities — a family of barred owls that has taken up residence in a Douglas Park tree.

Drawn by social media and birding community word-of-mouth, the crowds have been showing up for days, according to people who live nearby. 

"This is so interesting to be close to wildlife," said onlooker Taye. "I love birds and I have birds."

"It's a big delight for me. I'm a birder, and you don't see owls in the city too often," said Rudy Braun.

Depending on who you talk to, owls in this family consist of a mother, father and two or three fledglings.

When CBC visited Douglas Park one afternoon, there was an ever-changing crowd of about 20 people watching the two adults as they perched on branches not far from their nesting hole. 

A small ball of grey fluff — presumably one of the owlets — was barely visible higher up in the tree.  

Considered by some an invasive species, as urban creatures go, barred owls feel exotic by Vancouver standards.

"It's better than the rats we get around here. And the coyotes," said neighbourhood resident James Kung. "For once, we have real wildlife." 

As a precaution, the city has put a fence around the nesting tree and hung signs asking that people be quiet, keep dogs away, and not linger too long.