Owls of Yellowstone

$375

Dates:
May 27 - 28

Location:
Gardiner, Montana

Meals Included?:
No

Instructors:
Katy Duffy, M.S.

Audience Type:
Adult

Program Type:
Field Seminars

Program Subject:
Wildlife

Join us in the exploration of Yellowstone's owls! We will start with a classroom session to prepare ourselves for three field trips where we will read the Yellowstone landscape for owls: we will be looking at various habitats in the park and discussing why owls prefer these habitats. We will also cover ways to observe owls ethically so that we don’t disturb them, especially while they are nesting or seeking prey. Our evening field trip will occur at Owl Time, which begins just before dusk when nocturnal owls begin to stir. We’ll be using both our eyes and ears because much of owl observation is auditory. Owl nestlings loudly let their parents know how hungry they have become during the day. Mated pairs vocalize to each other for a variety of reasons, including announcing delivery of food for nestlings, as pair-bond reinforcement or as defense of their territory.

About the instructor

Katy Duffy has been a licensed bird bander specializing in diurnal raptors, owls, and songbirds for more than 40 years. She has also conducted late winter – spring surveys for advertising male forest owls in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for 23 years. She has counted diurnal raptors in Yellowstone National Park during fall migration since 2010. She has given programs and taught classes on diurnal raptors, owls, and other birds of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for more than 20 years.

Katy worked for the National Park Service in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for 32 years. She was a supervisory resource education ranger in Yellowstone and a ranger-naturalist in Grand Teton. She has a M.S. in ecology from Rutgers University.

Download Program Information:

Owls of Yellowstone Course Letter

More Information:

Lodging | Audience Descriptions

We are continually updating and refining our COVID-19 mitigation measures to ensure the health and safety our guests, staff and volunteers. Read our COVID-19 guidelines for program participants.

SUMMER ACTIVITY LEVEL SCALE

Be prepared to hike up to 1 mile per day, comfortably, through relatively flat terrain on maintained trails.
Be prepared to hike up to 3 miles per day, comfortably, with elevation gains up to 600 feet. Some off-trail hiking possible.
Be prepared to hike up to 5 miles per day, comfortably, with occasional elevation gains up to 1000 feet in undulating terrain.
Be prepared to hike up to 8 miles per day, at a brisk pace, comfortably, with climbs up to 1500 feet on dirt trails. Loose rocks, uneven footing, and off-trail hiking are possible. Good coordination is recommended.
Be prepared for brisk aerobic, destination-oriented hiking up to 12 miles a day. You should be physically conditioned to do these hikes comfortably. Elevation changes up to 2000 feet on dirt trails or off-trail. Loose rock, uneven footing, steep hillside traverses, and stream crossings are possible. Good coordination is required.

WINTER ACTIVITY LEVEL SCALE

Leisurely hikes up to 1 mile per day through relatively flat terrain on maintained or snow-packed trails.
Hikes on snow-packed trails, or snowshoe or ski trips, up to 3 miles per day with climbs up to 250 feet.
Brisk hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing up to 5 miles per day with climbs up to 500 feet, including some trail-breaking in snow.
Brisk aerobic snowshoeing or skiing up to 8 miles per day with climbs up to 1000 feet; or steep, rugged, off-trail skiing or snowshoeing—including breaking trail in variable snow conditions.
Brisk aerobic snowshoeing or skiing up to 12 miles per day with climbs up to 1500 feet; or steep, rugged, off-trail skiing or snowshoeing—including breaking trail in variable snow conditions.