Want to Study Owls in Arizona?’ That’s All It Took
Fierce Faces, Night Forests, and the Joy of Citizen Science
By Siobhan Ruck
MY FRIEND KNOWS HOW TO GET MY ATTENTION:
“I saw that there’s an trip to Cave Creek Canyon to study owls.”
Following Forest Owls in the Western U.S. was too tempting to pass up. Nancy and I had taken an trip to study parrots in Peru fifteen years earlier; it was amazing. We visited Cave Creek Canyon on a birding trip ten years prior, and the owls were a high point of that trip. Within days, we signed up. Then, the following year, we signed up again, and again … we just finished our sixth time.
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LEARNING TO LISTEN, LEARNING TO CONTRIBUTE
From Birders to Beginners (Again)
We had a few decades of volunteer experience with birds, but owls were a whole new thing for us. Surveying by sound—at night—in an unfamiliar environment was going to take some brand-new skills. Doing plot surveys by day, identifying potential nest cavities, and checking for breeding activity required a whole set of additional skills. I wondered how we could be of use to the researchers, given that we have so much to learn! Fortunately, the training was well thought out, introducing new elements each day (and night) and reinforcing the lessons by “learning by doing”.
Learning Together: Skills for Any Background
Over the years, our fellow ers have come with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds. We assumed that most would be avid birders like us, so it was surprising that many had not spent any significant time watching birds, let alone working with them. Our training enabled everyone to make meaningful contributions to the work. Some were even able to put their other interests to work—one participant, an entomologist, helped identify insects as part of a prey-based study we worked on that season.
WHAT FIELDWORK REALLY LOOKS LIKE
Plot Work by Day, Fierce Little Faces by Afternoon
Although the specifics of the work evolved over the years, our daily schedule remained largely consistent. The day began with training related to the day’s work—learning about tree types and plot survey activities—then we headed into the field for a few hours of mapping owl habitats and trying to find nests. Within a plot, we investigated every promising cavity with a specially designed “cavity cam” mounted on painter’s poles, rated them on quality, and mapped those that were worth rechecking in future years. Most were empty, but sometimes we’d be rewarded with a fierce little face staring back at us. As the years went by and more nests were found, we’d spend more time checking on previous years’ nests to see if they were in use again. There were more fierce little faces with every passing year!
Life at the Southwest Research Station
When the surveys were completed, we’d sometimes head back to the classroom for more training; other days, we’d have a few hours to explore the area on our own. The Arizona expeditions take place at the American Museum of Natural History’s Southwest Research Station near Cave Creek Canyon in Arizona. There are comfortable shared rooms and a dining hall for meals; most days, we took our meals outdoors under the giant sycamore by the creek. In addition to the classroom spaces, there’s also a great natural history library with cozy sofas.
A Living Lab in the Chiricahua Mountains
The station boasts a diverse mix of birds and other wildlife, along with a variety of plants, insects, and cool geology—so much so that even a short hike yielded interesting sightings. There are other studies underway at the station, and many of the researchers are happy to talk about their work. It was pretty cool to come home from this year’s trip and see a significant article in the NY Times about a woman I’d been talking to at mealtimes!
![Dr. Dave Oleyar and an participant about to release a Whiskered Screech Owl who has been fitted with a geo recorder]](/sites/default/files/2025/07/22/IMG_0279.jpg "Dr. Dave Oleyar and an participant about to release a Whiskered Screech Owl who has been fitted with a geo recorder]. |")
NIGHTS IN THE FOREST: SURVEYING, CAPTURING, AND RELEASING OWLS
Owl Hours: The Real Adventure Begins After Dark
As interesting as the days were, nighttime was when the fun started. With our newly acquired owl identification skills, we conducted audio surveys all around our part of the Chiricahua Mountains. We listened silently for a short period, then played owl calls and listened for responses. If any responded strongly and started approaching us, we quickly set up mist nets on tall poles and attempted to trap them. Some were very aggressive and came in almost immediately, while others made us work for quite a while before they finally visited. Many times, we finally gave up when it was obvious that they had no intention of being caught. The unpredictability made each capture that much more exciting.
Banding, Measuring, and Marveling
Once the owl is captured, the researchers attach a unique identifying band, which can be used to track the bird if it’s ever reencountered; think of it as the bird’s social security number. After banding, they take a series of measurements and do a general assessment of the bird’s health and possible breeding status. A few birds are selected to receive trackers that record their location data, providing an even more detailed picture of their lives.
Tiny Bodies, Huge Presence
And oh, those owls. The largest of them, the Western Screech Owl, weighs little more than 150 g, not quite 6 ounces. It can sit comfortably in the palm of your hand. They get smaller from there—all the way down to the Elf Owl, who stands just 6” tall and weighs about 40–45 g (about an ounce and a half). How can such a tiny thing have such a profound presence?
THE BIGGER PICTURE IN OWL CONSERVATION
A Species at the Edge: The Whiskered Screech Owl
The most captured owl at the Arizona site is the Whiskered Screech Owl. This bird is widespread in Mexico and Central America, but barely extends into the US along the southern border. The species has not been widely studied, so the work being done with this project is making a significant contribution to the body of knowledge over the decade it has been running.
Utah's Flammulated Owls: Tracking Generations
The Utah studies have been ongoing since 1994, with a focus on Flammulated Owls, a charismatic, dark-eyed owl with a voice that is much larger than the bird itself. I haven’t been to the Utah project yet, but it includes many nest boxes, so those expeditions include banding nestlings. (Cute!!). Because the studies have been going on for so long, they have been able to track multiple generations of birds.
The Moment of Release
After the banding work is done, we have a chance to admire these tiny predators before they head back into the night. If the owls seem comfortable, participants can have the opportunity to release them. It’s an incredible experience to share these moments with a completely wild creature.
WHY THIS WORK MATTERS (AND WHY WE KEEP GOING BACK)
More Than Just Fieldwork
Time with the owls is, of course, a significant draw, but another reason my friend and I keep returning is the presence of PI Dr. Dave Oleyar and the great group of collaborators who work with him. We don’t just learn about the work we’re going to do—we learn why it matters. He tells the story of how the forests they depend on are being fractured by human activities and are changing as our climate changes. Understanding what they need for breeding habitats and migration paths is critical for their survival; not just the trees in which they nest, but also the insects and other creatures they eat, as well as the effects of drought and extreme weather events. Dave’s passion for the owls is infectious; when you head home, you want to become an evangeowlist for the cause. (Oh, I forgot to mention the steady stream of owl puns.)
Come for the Owls, Stay for the People
During our downtime and meals, we sometimes talk owls, but conversations can be wide-ranging and generally enjoyable. I find that participants seem to self-select for interesting people. On most trips, about half of the people are traveling with for the first time, and half have been on trips before—as many as 15 or 20 previous expeditions!
Is This for You?
is not for everyone; if you want to escape to the beach with a paperback or challenge yourself with a long-distance backpacking trip, this may not check your boxes. But if you want an enriching experience, to expand your understanding of the world while doing something that makes a difference, and to do it in an amazing location—have I got a suggestion for you….
Ready to Hear the Forest Speak?
If the idea of tracking tiny predators under star-filled skies makes your heart beat faster… you might be one of us. Whether you're a seasoned birder, a total newcomer, or just someone who likes the sound of owl calls in the night, there's a place for you on this expedition.
Join Following Forest Owls in the Western U.S. and be part of the story.
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