GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist and her five parrots are currently relocating to Germany, where she will continue writing her blog while also writing a book and learning German. (Meanwhile, her parrots will continue to nibble on her extensive personal library.) If you appreciate GrrlScientist's writing, you can help pay her living expenses by hiring her to "blog" your conference, speak at your club or write articles for your publication (or by clicking on the Paypal button below). If you read an essay on this blog that you especially enjoyed, please nominate it for inclusion in 
tags: Mexican Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis lucida, Joel Sartore, National Geographic, image of the day
Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida)
An estimated 1,000 to 2,000 remain.
Image: Joel Sartore/National Geographic [larger view].
Joel Sartore has shared some of his work on this blog before, so I am thrilled to tell you that National Geographic also appreciates his exemplary work. You can view more endangered animals of the United States that were photographed by the talented Joel Sartore here at National Geographic online. All images appear here by permission of National Geographic online.
Life Science
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Comments
This species can't go extinct. If it did, how would it be spotted?
Posted by: Bob O'H | January 27, 2009 3:41 PM
I have a soft spot for owls. I know that all living creatures are important. But there is something about owls.
Posted by: Lilian Nattel | January 27, 2009 3:52 PM
Totally agree with Lillian and Bob. I believe this owl is one of the most aesthetic in existence, not to mention its equal right to exist in nature. We need to start a SAVE THE SPOTTED OWL campaign ! On the same subject Is there a list of animals that will go into exinction with the advance of global warming ? Perhaps, Obama should earmark some money for the creatures that cannot speak up for themselves.
Posted by: Heather Lahey | March 11, 2009 1:12 PM