Newsletter May 2007

The long-whiskered owlet, a unique, tiny and extremely rare species of owl, was spotted in the wild for the first time in the northeastern jungle of Peru this past February. This owl, one of the world’s smallest, was discovered in 1976. Since then it had only been caught in nets a few times after dark, but has never seen roaming freely.

The long-whiskered owlet is no bigger than an adult's fist.

The American Bird Conservancy said that the sighting “is considered a holy grail of South American ornithology” because, despite many efforts by researchers, not a single specimen had been spotted in the wild in more than 30 years. “Seeing the long-whiskered owlet is a huge thrill,” said David Geale of the Association of Andean Ecosystems.  “This owl’s population is very small. We believe there are less than 1,000 individuals, and possibly even as few as 250.” The species is in danger of extinction due to its small range and the rapid destruction of its Amazon forest habitat.

Notice the owlet's large reddish-orange eyes and the long silky
feathers surrounding them.

The long-whiskered owlet is so unique and distinct from other owls that it has been given its own genus, “Xenoglaux,” which means “strange owl,” due to the long and wisplike feathers surroundings its big, orange eyes.

Source: MSNBC.com, ElComercio.com.pe

PAST NEWSLETTERS:

• Newsletter December 2007
• Newsletter November 2007
• Newsletter October 2007
• Newsletter September 2007
• Newsletter August 2007
• Newsletter July 2007
• Newsletter June 2007
• Newsletter May 2007
• Newsletter April 2007
• Newsletter March 2007
• Newsletter February 2007
• Newslette January 2007