Morgan Keohane, Day 1 of Following Forest Owls & Tree Hollows in Western U.S. Forests
My name is Morgan Keohane and I reside in Brockton, Massachusetts. I work in Boston Public Schools as the Teacher Librarian at the P.A. Shaw Elementary School. My school is located in Dorchester, Massachusetts and serves students from grades K0-3. Dorchester is a neighborhood not only identified by its levels of economic and racial diversity, but also a history of a large immigrant population.
Science Blog
Our group arrived at the Southwestern Research Station in Portal, Arizona. Run by the American Museum of Natural History, the station is located in the Chiricahua Mountains and is a “biodiversity hotspot” for researchers wanting to study the natural world.
My name is Morgan Keohane and I reside in Brockton, Massachusetts. I work in Boston Public Schools as the Teacher Librarian at the P.A. Shaw Elementary School. My school is located in Dorchester, Massachusetts and serves students from grades K0-3. Dorchester is a neighborhood not only identified by its levels of economic and racial diversity, but also a history of a large immigrant population.
Science Blog
Our group arrived at the Southwestern Research Station in Portal, Arizona. Run by the American Museum of Natural History, the station is located in the Chiricahua Mountains and is a “biodiversity hotspot” for researchers wanting to study the natural world.
Dave Oleyar is the lead researcher on this particular project and launched the study with a presentation about the specific forest owls we would be looking for at this site. The six species of owls being studied for this project are the Flammulated Owl, Elf Owl, Whiskered Screech-owl, Northern Pygmy Owl, Western Screech-owl, and Northern Saw-whet Owl. Both the Elf Owl and the Whiskered Screech Owl can only be found in the southwestern parts of the country. During the presentation the group learned that most owls are nocturnal or crepuscular. Owls are secondary cavity nesters; instead of building their own nests, they take over tree cavities or abandoned nests. Dave told us that throughout the week we would learn to identify the different owl species and study the cavities they call home.
Dave emphasized many of the features owls have that make them “a pinnacle of evolution.” They are sensitive to both light and movement. We learned that owls have binocular vision and long tubes to allow for better sight in low light. Because of the structure of the owls’ tubes they cannot turn their eyes; unlike humans, they have a long, flexible neck to allow them to turn their heads 270 degrees.
Owls also have excellent hearing. Their ears are placed asymmetrically on their heads, allowing them to receive sounds at different times. This provides the birds with an astounding ability to pinpoint where a sound is coming from. Their facial structure also funnels sound directly to their ears; this is what gives all owls that recognizable facial structure.
Not only do owls have excellent vision and hearing, but they are also silent fliers. Making very little noise when flying allows them to quietly swoop in on unsuspecting prey. The shape of their feathers minimizes the flapping noises that most other bird species create. The top edges of their feathers are serrated like a comb, while the bottom edges appear frayed and uneven; both shapes help to break up airflow and reduce noise. Their feathers are also soft and fine to further mitigate any sound creation.
Dave emphasized many of the features owls have that make them “a pinnacle of evolution.” They are sensitive to both light and movement. We learned that owls have binocular vision and long tubes to allow for better sight in low light. Because of the structure of the owls’ tubes they cannot turn their eyes; unlike humans, they have a long, flexible neck to allow them to turn their heads 270 degrees.
Owls also have excellent hearing. Their ears are placed asymmetrically on their heads, allowing them to receive sounds at different times. This provides the birds with an astounding ability to pinpoint where a sound is coming from. Their facial structure also funnels sound directly to their ears; this is what gives all owls that recognizable facial structure.
Not only do owls have excellent vision and hearing, but they are also silent fliers. Making very little noise when flying allows them to quietly swoop in on unsuspecting prey. The shape of their feathers minimizes the flapping noises that most other bird species create. The top edges of their feathers are serrated like a comb, while the bottom edges appear frayed and uneven; both shapes help to break up airflow and reduce noise. Their feathers are also soft and fine to further mitigate any sound creation.
With the presentation giving the group a better understanding of owls overall, we learned about the mist nets that we would be using to capture the different owl species and set off into the dark. We had to quickly learn the art of being still, trying to be silent so that we could hear any potential owls in the area. We were able to catch one female Whiskered Screech-owl. We knew she was a female because she was missing feathers on her belly. We learned that this was called a brood patch and allows the female owl to better transfer heat to her eggs and nestlings.
Personal Blog
It’s always nice when a group of strangers can form an instant community. With educators coming from all over the country, every single person was eager to share their interests with the group and bring excitement to the entire experience. From the minute we arrived at the airport, the researchers welcomed us and started to share their knowledge on the drive from the airport to the research station. Everyone was so excited just thinking about getting up close and personal with the owls, and I felt incredibly lucky to be able to hold and band an owl on the very first night of the trip.
This trip is sure to be a hoot! (I had to get at least one owl pun in there). I am looking forward to working on a project with western owls, and being able to observe and explore scientific practices as well as the biological diversity in a new environment. Despite only being here for one day this trip has made me even more passionate about exposing my students to the things they can do when they have the knowledge and understanding that comes from asking questions, trying new things, collaborating, and testing out ideas.
Did You Know?
The smallest owl in the world is the Elf Owl.
It’s always nice when a group of strangers can form an instant community. With educators coming from all over the country, every single person was eager to share their interests with the group and bring excitement to the entire experience. From the minute we arrived at the airport, the researchers welcomed us and started to share their knowledge on the drive from the airport to the research station. Everyone was so excited just thinking about getting up close and personal with the owls, and I felt incredibly lucky to be able to hold and band an owl on the very first night of the trip.
This trip is sure to be a hoot! (I had to get at least one owl pun in there). I am looking forward to working on a project with western owls, and being able to observe and explore scientific practices as well as the biological diversity in a new environment. Despite only being here for one day this trip has made me even more passionate about exposing my students to the things they can do when they have the knowledge and understanding that comes from asking questions, trying new things, collaborating, and testing out ideas.
Did You Know?
The smallest owl in the world is the Elf Owl.