Mrs. Seidl offers student research expedition to study owls in Utah

After researching owls this summer in Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains, Mrs. Seidl will lead a student research expedition in Utah to study tiny owls!
Hello! My name is Shannon Seidl, the science department chair, and biology and environmental science teacher here at Salpointe. This past summer, I spent a week researching forest owls in the Chiricahua Mountains outside of Tucson. This was part one of the Project Kindle Fellowship I was awarded through the Earthwatch Institute. During my time in the Chiricahuas, I stayed at the Southwest Research Station with 7 other teachers chosen from all over the United States, as well as Dr. Dave Oleyar. Dr. Oleyar is the Principal Investigator from Hawkwatch International. Dr. Oleyar researches these tiny birds that migrate to Arizona and southern Utah in the spring and summer to lay their eggs, and rear their young fledglings in tree cavities before flying back to Mexico for the winter. Dr. Oleyar is trying to learn more about these elusive, nocturnal insectivores that scientists currently know little about, especially with understanding their role in the ecosystem, their response to forest management decisions, and climate change.

We were specially trained in how to identify tree species, determine forest density, and how to use special equipment to seek out nesting cavities. The other teachers and I spent our days putting our skills to the test to survey forest sites for possible nesting cavities of the 6 smallest forest owl species in North America. We were searching to find places where they could be laying their eggs or use in the future to do so. At night, we all worked very hard setting up mist nets in various locations to catch and tag adult owls using owl calls. Fortunately, we were able to tag a few individual Whiskered screech owls and helped contribute to this very important research project. You can read more about my experience from my blog here: http://sseidlearthwatch.edublogs.org/

For the second part of my fellowship, I will be taking a group of students from Salpointe to join me next summer to follow forest owls in Snow Basin, Utah, where Dr. Oleyar’s colleagues are seeing how planted nest sites are being used. Students will engage in similar activities as I did in the Chiricahuas, hiking into the Utah aspens to seek out and tag owls, including their young. Students will work side-by-side with real scientists that are using field research and citizen science in order to answer some of the world’s most pressing environmental questions. If your student is interested in participating in this once in a lifetime scientific expedition, I will be holding an initial information session on Thursday, September 6th, immediately after school in room 604 (snacks provided). Click here for the flyer with more information.
 
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Salpointe Catholic High School

1545 E. Copper St.,
Tucson, AZ 85719
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