Join Dr. Mitchell Pruitt—UA professor and director of Ozark Bird Conservancy—on an evening owl excursion on Friday, April 25th. Participants will have a chance to observe field work in action as Mitchell and colleagues attempt to capture and band Eastern Screech-Owls at a nest site near Lake Wilson in Fayetteville. The team will also be deploying GPS tags on breeding adults. This research is part of OBC’s Urban Raptor Project, which seeks to understand how raptors, like screech-owls, persist in urban settings. Screech-owls have historically been considered urban tolerant, but there is evidence populations may be declining in some urban areas, including NWA.
Participants should expect walking on rough terrain in the dark, and staying up late. Hiking boots and flashlights are required as this is a known site for Pygmy Rattlesnakes—perhaps we’ll find one!
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Field trips will meet at Mount Sequoyah Retreat Center outside of Millar Lodge (GPS 36.064169, -94.146958). Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your departure time to allow time for parking, finding your group, and checking in with your trip leader. We encourage carpooling. If you wish to meet at the site, or have any other accommodation requests please contact Taylor Long at [email protected] or text 479-530-9084.
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Mitchell Pruitt will lead the caravan from Mt Sequoyah, leaving at 7:00 PM on Friday evening. The drive to Lake Wilson will take about 15 minutes. The exact location we’ll park is GPS: 36.0011808, -94.1374063. We should be done by 9:30 at the latest.