The great gray owls at Petrie Island have been there for a few months now. I have heard there are up to 3 of them. Never bothered to check because the Rockcliffe Parkway at Green's Creek owls were very reliable and they still are.

A small group of us drove to Petrie Island, maybe a 10 minute drive from the Rockcliffe Parkway at Green's Creek to look for the 2 to 3 Great Gray Owls there.

Ran into a local who told me that there were 2 great gray owls seen on the ice today at Petrie Island. There were about 8 people photographing them. People are watching the owls here every day. I was told to just follow the ski trail on the ice from the spot pictured above. You will see the ski trail marks on the ice in person from that bridge.

The photo above is as you drive over the causeway/bridge and just before the parking area to the right past the guard rail. The person explained the walk from this spot would be about 30 minutes (could be much less). You walk straight to the tree line at the back (parallel with the bridge or guard rail) and go through it. Turn right and keep to the shoreline. There is one or two fishing shacks. The owls are past the shacks. I still need to check it out.

This is likely next to the path that goes by the Petrie Island visitor centre.

You can either park at the parking spot to the right of this bridge or drive onto Petrie Island and park at parking spot 63, 64, etc. That will save a few steps. I see some cars stopped on the service road just past the college and bus stop. There are a few ways to get to the owls.

One Great Gray Owl photo from Petrie Island.
http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/photo-galleries/photos-of-the-day/photos-of-the-day-february-2013-1.1139598


Petrie Island: From Ottawa, take queensway eastbound and take left fork in hwyway to Orleans. Keep on the 174 east until Trim exit. At the lights on the hyway at Trim turn left onto Petrie Island.