We traveled back south along the road south of the Visitor’s Center, near where we had earlier seen the pygmy-owls. It was more open in this location and the wind was heavier. After playing a recording for some time, we finally heard one call. It flew into a thicket east of the road and perched for a minute or two before disappearing. We searched but never got another good look at him. We heard a second bird on the west side of the road, but it was not interested in perching out in the open either. The wind may have been a factor.

It was getting late, and we still had a 2-hour drive back over the mesa to get to Kenton. After two late nights in a row and a long drive for me the next day, we decided to call it a night and started back. We had three good nights of owling. We still haven’t called up a Saw-whet in Cimarron County, but we know that they are within 20 miles of Kenton. We’ll keep trying. I’m confident we will eventually be successful.