A Not-So-Wordless-Wednesday Peek Into A Scientific Study
On Monday, I was fortunate enough to be the guest of Brian Linkhart, Professor at Colorado College, as he and his students continued their yearly documentation of the "Flammulated Owls". These tiny owls are only about 6 inches tall at maturity, and live deep in the heart of old growth forests from southern Canada to Mexico, where they migrate in the winter. Professor Linkhart has been studying these owls for 28 years, in an effort to learn more about these little known owls of the forest.
Rarely seen, they make their nests in woodpecker holes high in the trees, and prefer the old growth forests (where trees are 100-200 years old or more), of Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir. The eggs of these owls incubate for about 22 days before hatching. The female remains with her owlets for about five weeks, while the male hunts moths and other insects with which to feed his family.
Professor Linkhart tells me that the Flammulated (Greek for 'flame shaped') Owl is considered 'sensitive', as opposed to threatened or endangered, but more study is needed to determine the effects of deforestation on these tiny, docile creatures.
We traveled along a rough dirt road deep into the forest around the Manitou Experimental Station north of Woodland Park, Colorado. Quietly, we approached an old aspen known to house an owl family. The photos that follow document the process of the study.
A camera set on a very long pole is raised about 35 feet up to 'peep' into the woodpecker hole to see if the owls are in residence, (they are). A net is raised to cover the hole and prevent the female from taking flight.
Professor Linkhart carefully removes the owls from their nest, and lowers them to the students waiting below.
Flammulated Owlet, about 20 days old.
The students then take blood samples,
weigh, and measure the owls and their wings,
band them,
and take detailed notes, carefully documenting all the information gathered.
The owls are treated with great care, and no harm comes to them. I was surprised at how calm and docile the mother owl was at being handled. When the study was completed, the owls were carefully returned to their nest.
We share our planet with so many other creatures - most of us are not even aware many of them exist - and the choices we make effect us all. Let's start making better choices. For all of us.
For photos of endangered animals, visit my website, Species in Peril
Many thanks to Professor Linkhart and his students for this amazing opportunity to learn about, and photograph, the Flammulated Owls in Colorado.
Nature and Wildlife Photography Notecards
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