[obol] Pygmy-owl research and not surveying

[John Deshler]

Hi OBOLers,

If you read the February Warbler from the Audubon
Society of Portland you may have seen a note about
research on Pygmy-owl habitat selection and breeding
behavior.  The title of that Warbler note was an
unfortunate misprint.

Contrary to what it suggests, I do NOT want folks
going to Forest Park to call for pygmy-owls.  In fact,
that would be a great disservice to me, and to
pygmy-owls.   When people call for pygmy-owls during
the breeding season, an adult male may defend his 
territory by responding tirelessly at that location
for several days, and for several hours each day. 
These artificially instigated territory defense calls
make nest finding nearly impossible.  

Finding pygmy-owl nests in a dense forest is as
difficult as you might imagine it to be, perhaps more
so.  My ability to write a masters thesis and to
graduate from school depend largely on my ability to
find pygmy-owl nests.  So for my sake, please do NOT
go to Forest Park and call for pygmy-owls.  I
sincerely hope folks can appreciate this request and
honor it.
 
That said, I am indeed recruiting a small team to help
me in the field.  The details of that will be
discussed at Nature Night on March 11th at Audubon.  
Please drop in for that.

John Deshler




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