2025

Of course, with the previous incredible Burrowing Owl season, another year of data collection was happening! This year, the core team grew, with some new and familiar faces. Solai Lefay and I were both back, but were accompanied by Priscilla Esclarksi (an incredible ornithologist from Brazil who has previously worked with many owl species), Elif Göçer (an enthusiastic biologist from Turkey with a PhD involving Eurasian Scops-Owls), Malavika Madhavan (a PhD student and expert in bioacoustics, especially with the Little Owl - cousin of the Burrowing Owl), and Clara Oliverson (an upcoming biologist, who previously volunteered on the Depot, and great friend of mine).

With all the previous owl experience and overall enthusiasm, the team hit the ground running. Early on, we could tell that it was going to be another impressive year. May was mostly spent on site checks, clearing vegetation, capturing and banding all adults, and some effort on a few side studies. Though I left in early June, I could not be happier with the bonds I made with everyone this year. Solai and Priscilla wrapped up chick banding through June, totaling around 300 young across 85 nesting attempts.

After leaving the Depot, I began the first fieldwork on a study of my own. After months of planning, it was finally here! The program is based on a long-term demographic study, with the ability to pursue other aspects. Though the work done wasn’t a full season, the first steps of the study brought invaluable lessons that will no doubt help with logistics and execution for the next field season. A special shoutout to Riis Hinrichs, a great friend of mine, whose help with fieldwork I couldn’t have gone without. Overall, I was very happy with what was accomplished in less than a month.

I ended the year down in Arizona, once again, working on the HawkWatch Following Forest Owls program. Due to a drought, the nesting and territorial owls were few and far between. This didn’t stop us from still grabbing valuable insight into them! I also got to meet and work with the talented Jessica Taylor, a biologist at HawkWatch International. Her knowledge and willingness to help others, including me, were inspiring. My time there is always educational and enlightening.