By Hannah Toutonghi

Northern Hawk Owls (Surnia ulula) are one of the least studied birds in North America due to their remote range in the northern boreal forests. Little is known about how far individuals travel, whether leaving their natal grounds for the first time or after they have established a winter territory. They are enigmatic, feisty, and incredibly charismatic owls. This talk by Hannah Toutonghi delves into her research of using novel telemetry methods to see if we can, for the first time, get a glimpse inside the life of how hawk owls move throughout the landscape. Please come with your curiosity and questions about this nomadic denizen of the Northwoods!

Hannah is a field ornithologist from the greater Seattle area, who has focused her research efforts on studying raptor migration and breeding birds in the boreal forest over the last several years. She has previously worked at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, the Natural Resources Research Institute, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, and the Institute for Bird Populations. Hannah completed her master’s degree through the University of Minnesota Duluth, and now works as a data scientist at the Ocean Research College Academy in Everett, Washington. Throughout her field work experience and graduate school, she has realized how important it is to get students interested in the natural world. She is an avid birder and feels lucky to return to the pacific northwest to both enjoy and study the birds in this region.