Up Close and Personal with the Great Gray Owl – Recording Available
Join us for a presentation on Great Gray Owl biology and ecology by Dr. James Duncan. Jim has been studying this “Phantom of the Northern Forest” for over four decades in Manitoba, Ontario, Minnesota, and California. One of his most recent discoveries is how this owl overcomes an auditory illusion when hunting small mammals under thick snow.
Jim Duncan obtained a Ph.D. in 1992 from the University of Manitoba for research on the Great Gray Owl. Throughout his biology career, Jim was active in diverse local, national, and international conservation initiatives until his retirement in 2018 as Director of Manitoba’s Wildlife and Fisheries Branch.
Jim claims that his various jobs were simply a way to support his obsessive habit of studying owls with his life partner and fellow zoologist, Patsy. Together, they have researched owls for 40 years, have banded over 2,500 owls, and have published hundreds of articles, papers, and several symposium proceedings on owls. Jim’s three beautifully illustrated books on owls of the world are an example of the importance Jim places on sharing scientific knowledge with the public in an engaging manner.
In 2018 Jim established a social enterprise called Discover Owls which conducts education, research and conservation programs on owls in Manitoba and around the world. To date he has delivered over 600 live owl presentations to school classrooms and other venues and has delivered over 180 lectures and talks on owls and conservation.
