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Spotted Owl by Eric Forsman
Postponed
until 2011
Would you like to see all 19 species of
owls in the United States in one calendar year while supporting the creation
of the first owl education center in North America? If so, then keep
reading!
The National Owl-a-Thon will consist of
three guided trips during 2011. The goal of each trip is to find, observe,
enjoy (and hopefully even photograph) all of the owl species that occur in that
region. In the process of just three guided trips, participants will get to experience
three unique
and very special ecosystems, many additional species of birds, and other wildlife.
The three trips and their target species are
as follows:
Southeastern Minnesota (along with
Northeastern Iowa and Southwestern Wisconsin if needed) - late March
Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl,
Barred Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl
Southeastern Arizona - Sky Islands - early
May
Barn Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Whiskered
Screech-Owl, Spotted Owl, Burrowing Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Elf Owl, Flammulated
Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Northern Minnesota - December
Great Gray Owl, Snowy Owl, Northern Hawk
Owl, Boreal Owl
To our knowledge, this will be the
first-ever Owl-a-Thon, and only a very few individuals have ever seen all 19
North American owls in a single year. Participation in this unique
opportunity will likely be limited to around 10-12 individuals. Plans are
to make this an annual event.
The National Owl-a-Thon will function like a Bird-a-Thon
in that each participant will be expected to get a number of pledges from other
owl lovers, friends, birders, birding organizations, and businesses for the number owl species seen on each trip.
Our guides, the majority of whom are professional bird guides, are donating all or a portion of their time to
contribute to this fundraising effort.
Bear in mind that owls are wild animals and
while we cannot guarantee that every owl species will be found, every effort
will be made to locate and carefully observe each of the 19 species that
normally inhabit the continent.
For more information contact Owl-a-Thon
organizer Ric Zarwell at Ric.Zarwell@mchsi.com,
(mobile) 563-538-4991, or (home) or 563-419-4991.
More details and registration information
will be posted on this web page as it becomes available.
website hosted by The Owl Pages
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