It was a warm and slightly breezy evening. Temperatures were hovering at a comfortable 65 degrees. Perfect for a night hike to search for owls in the desert mountains. The stars were blazing bright above us and I could see the winter-time constellation—Orion reminding me it was indeed winter. The warm nights are the best part of owling in southeastern Arizona in winter. 

I am in the company of Arizona’s “Owl Guy”, Rick Bowers who is by far one of the most experienced wildlife photographer and bird experts in Southeastern Arizona. We are hiking down a very narrow trail in the mountains with a bright moon to guide our way. We stop every so often to listen for the tell tale call of the Whiskered Owl, a tiny owl of oak forests at elevations around 5,000 feet. The call of this tiny owl is a soft steady hoot that becomes irregular and resembles something like Morse Code when the owl becomes excited.

Read the rest of the Stan's column in our April issue...