I started the day by preparing my gear and equipment to be out in the tundra doing field research. Little did I know that our research would take different turn! It was quite a surprise when Denver Holt, snowy owl expert, walked into our lab needing the team’s help! Holt knew that the team conducts spectral terrestrial scans here in the arctic. He had a couple of theories that he needed data on when it came to a snowy owl’s ability to see beyond visible light. In addition, he wanted to know if the reflectance in an owl’s white feathers has anything to do with a male’s ability to attract a female. Also, Holt wanted his ideas to be tested out on a specimen that he currently had in his possession.
Snowy Owl Wing Span
Denver Holt monitors and tags the snowy owl population in Utqiagvik. He knows where every nest is and how many eggs and chicks are found within these nests. His research is vital in keeping track of the snowy owl population. Holt wants to know how nests are successful and what obstacles snowy owls face. He has been working with this species of bird for 30 years now!
Conducting a spectral scan of a snowy owl. Left to right: Denver Holt, Monica Nuñez, Fred Huemmrich, Sergio Vargas
Denver Holt began by telling us that early in the spring he had found a dead male snowy owl near its nest. Holt is still investigating the reasons for the mysterious death of this majestic creature. The nest was on its way to being successful with 6 eggs and a beautiful female. Unfortunately, after several days the female could no longer keep her eggs and feed herself so she abandoned the nest altogether. These are the harsh realities of wildlife in the cold, harsh tundra.
Denver Holt exposes the gray down of a snowy owl for spectral scan.
Through the process, the team was very professional when handling this beautiful specimen. We all collaborated as much as possible in gathering all of the data that would be needed to make this meaningful to Holt. From taking spectral scans to gathering graphical data to taking specimen photographs. It was of utter importance to get the job done right.
Gathering data of a snowy owl specimen. Left to right: Denver Holt, Mariana Orejel, Tabatha Fuson, Sergio Vargas.
As we immersed ourselves in the work, Mark Wilson was photographing the entire process for his upcoming book. Wilson is has been in the field documenting Holt’s work with snowy owls for his upcoming children’s book series, Scientists in the Field; a Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publishing. I look forward to the release of this book.
University of Maryland Research Associate Professor, Dr. Fred Huemmrich & Children's Author, Mark Wilson hold an interview in regards to the spectral scan of a snowy owl.
Denver Holt is the founder and president of the Owl Research Institute. Make sure to visit his website by clicking here and checking out the snowy owl live cam found here in Barrow, Alaska!
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