Measuring at 15 inches, the Giant scops Owl (Otus gurneyi) is the largest of all the scops owls species in the Philippines.. and dare I say, the most beautiful!!! It is endemic to the Philippines and it can only be found in the moist lowland forests of Mindanao, Siargao and Dinagat.. I photographed this one in Bukidnon inside a closed observation hide.. Its nest was previously unknown and many believed that, like other scops owls, it's likely to nest in tree cavities.. But our research and conservation group, the Robert S. Kennedy Bird Conservancy or RSKBC, through our director, Dr. Miguel David De Leon has found out otherwise. Even the presumed nesting season published in literature is altogether incorrect. More information once our research is published.. In 2020, he rescued an owlet abandoned by its parents after its nest was damaged by a road construction.. He named the owlet, Mizu, from its former scientific name, Mimizuku gurneyi. After rearing it for two months, he turned over the owlet to John and Renee Perrine for release back to the wild.. So when a nest was found last month, Doc asked me if I could come to act as 2nd observer for the nest documentation.. how could I say no.. 🤣🤣🤣 Thank you so much, Doc!😜😁 2nd observers are important to validate such data previously unknown to science.. So after an incredibly short and unforgettably sweet encounter with Pamarayeg III, the Philippine Eagle at Mt. Kitanglad, we were again hitting the road on the way to Manolo Fortich.. Ate our late lunch upon arrival at the site, and soon after we were inside the observation hide waiting for the parents' return.. While waiting, Doc taught me everything he knew about this gorgeous species.. This owl was once thought to be strictly nocturnal, but what this was not the case here.. it was active in broad daylight.. And Dr. De Leon told me he has encountered the species active during daytime while in the field documenting plants and other birds.. We have still much to learn about our endemic species.. Sadly, Giant scops Owls are currently endangered of becoming extinct due to Habitat Loss.. Like the Philippine Eagle, they are dependent on the forest for their survival.. We save our forests, we save these magnificent creatures..
