(WOODLAND PARK, Colo.) — Each year a “tiny and mysterious owl species” pops up in the Pike National Forest near Woodland Park and staff at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo) were recently able to take part in a 40+ year study of the young birds.

According to CMZoo, flammulated owls settle in during the spring and summer, and thanks to member-funded location trackers, the Zoo was able to assist researchers in learning more about the owls’ movements and habitats.

“The initiative is in partnership with Dr. Brian Linkhart, a seasoned researcher with over 40 years of experience studying flammulated owls in Colorado,” wrote CMZoo. “While owl numbers seem stable in Colorado study sites, their low reproductive rates and association with older forests raises questions about the stability of owl populations throughout their range.”

According to a release on CMZoo’s website, each year the owls travel thousands of miles from “southern Mexico and Central America to the U.S. and southern Canada and back.” And, to help track their movements, earlier this month, CMZoo’s staff worked with Dr. Linkhart to place identifier bands on the young owls before attaching tiny and lightweight Motus trackers to 10 of the birds.

“We weren’t sure we’d find any owlets, but our hearts skipped a collective beat when Dr. Linkhart climbed up a tree and brought two tiny owls down, still all fluffy with some of their downy feathers,” Jaymee Dietz, CMZoo Veterinary Technician said. “Seeing them in person was so inspiring. My passion for protecting owls is at an all-time high, and I’m excited to share that with the members who made this possible.”

CMZoo’s assistance with the project comes as part of its conservation commitments and after the recent installation of Motus Wildlife Tracking System (Motus) towers at both the Zoo and Fountain Creek Nature Center.

“It’s possible that the Motus towers, also funded by members… could help track the movements of some of the owls wearing the member-funded Motus trackers,” said Nicole Chaney, CMZoo Conservation and Sustainability Coordinator. “We’ll be keeping a close eye on those towers this fall when the owls start heading south again for winter.”

To learn more about the flammulated owl study or conservation efforts at CMZoo, click on the link above.