2021
At the end of my volunteer work in 2020, David Johnson asked me to return as an intern in 2021. As you might've guessed, I quickly accepted. The season lasted from the start of May to a week into July. Still in high school, I finished my senior year via online classes that were now available due to COVID. The burrowing owl season was a massive achievement with record numbers of reproductive success. The season ended with 62 pairs and 365 young that were banded! Additionally, two great horned owls, six barn owl nestlings, six American kestrels, and ten common raven nestlings were banded and accounted for. 2021 was planned to be the project's final year, so, much burrow maintenance was done, upgrading and installing new artificial burrows. David also gave me a side project to lead on the decorations of male owls at burrows. This season also featured a film crew from Plimsoll Productions that filmed a burrowing owl sequence for the Super/Natural series by National Geographic/Disney+. They used one of my photos for a cover of the series, too! I had a spectacular time this year and met many amazing new people.
Newly hatched baby burrowing owls.
A juvenile BUOW freshly coated with flea-repelling dust and ready to be banded.
Me posing next to a burrow with an upgraded patio.
DJ posing next to a burrow with an upgraded patio.
Measurements taken on the primary feathers of an adult BUOW.
Myself with a juvenile great horned owl.
DJ with a juvenile great horned owl.
Juvenile great horned owl.
A heavily decorated burrow with decorations such as corn stalk, coyote scat, mushrooms, sticks, and grass-root clumps
A heavily decorated burrow with decorations such as moss, coyote scat, animal bone remains, and a corn cob.
A heavily decorated burrow with decorations such as grass-root clumps, moss/lichen, and coyote scat.
A moderately decorated burrow with decorations such as grass-root clumps, moss, coyote scat, and a corn cob.
Weed fabric is laid down for two freshly installed burrows.
Rocks are placed around the burrow's entrance, armoring it from coyotes.
Pea gravel is placed on top of the weed fabric.
My 4Runner and trailer loaded up with buckets full of pea gravel.
Four common raven nesltings.
Me banding a common raven nestling.
A juvenile CORA.
A clutch of BUOW nestlings.
Roughly 24 day-old BUOW chicks in a pale and ready to be banded.
Myslef with an adult female AMKE.
Myself with an adult BUOW.
Me with a BNOW nestling.
Me with an adult male BUOW.
The amazing film crew for the Super/Natural series. Mark (left), Jove (middle, and Sarah (right).
Wing span measurements being taken on an adult BUOW.
My photo used on the cover of Super/Natural.
End of the season team photo. From left to right: me, Travis, Alan, DJ, and Alex
DJ and I.