By Pam Willison
The Owl Research Institute will be presented with Flathead Audubon’s 2024 Business Conservation Achievement Recognition Award at the upcoming March 10 meeting. Founded in 1988, the Owl Research Institute (ORI) is a recognized leader in owl conservation through research and education. Based in Charlo, Montana, they support the protection of viable owl populations through long-term research and monitoring of various owl species, their prey and their habitat.
ORI promotes informed natural resource management by sharing their findings with land management agencies, conservation organizations, and landowners. They also provide education to a global audience through field trips, live and online presentations, research publications, newsletters, live cams and social media channels. Current ORI research and monitoring projects include Snowy, Great Gray, Long-eared, Short-eared, Northern Pygmy, Northern Saw-whet, Northern Hawk, Flammulated, Boreal, and Barn owl species. In addition, ORI conducts a fall migration study of small forest owls and a winter raptor survey.
ORI staff commits considerable time and energy to field research. If you’ve had the chance to join them or see their presentations, you know this requires staff who are durable, tough, intuitive, smart, and dedicated. Their work takes them deep into the woods, wetlands and tundra for long hours, often involving working into the night and under challenging weather conditions. Their website says “we often experience exhaustion, frustration and exasperation”, while also noting that “when it’s all said and done, we love what we do”.
ORI’s Founder and President, Denver Holt, is an authority in the world of owl research and current team leader for Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Snowy Owl species account. Denver’s work has been featured in television, radio, film and print publications, including National Geographic, BBC, PBS and the New York Times. His research has been published extensively in scientific journals, and he is a popular speaker at symposiums and bird festivals.
Denver is joined by Research Biologist Beth Mendelsohn, a graduate of the University of Wyoming’s wildlife ecology and genomics program and veteran of 12 years studying raptors. A longtime ORI volunteer, Beth joined the staff in 2019. She conducts extensive field research on North American owl species; facilitates ORI’s internship and volunteer programs; and gives presentations to schools, communities and colleagues.
In addition to Denver and Beth, the ORI team includes Director of Development and Office Manager Jeanna Clifford, Volunteer Researcher Steve Hiro, and Applied Technology Specialist Troy Gruetzmacher. Rounding out the team is ORI intern Gabriela Mendes from Brazil and Field Technician Hayley Madden.
Flathead Audubon thanks ORI’s staff and volunteers for their hard work, dedication and science in support of owls.