Remembering David Johnson and the burrowing owls he loved

Chris Morgan· Host0:00

We lost a good friend a few days ago, a friend of the owls and a man who made a real difference for them. David Johnson passed away on June 15th from cancer, and we were very lucky to spend time with this kind, inspiring man for an episode we did about his delightful burrowing owls a few years ago, an experience that'll always stay with me. David was a very, very special man. Uh, I've heard people say that he seemed connected to every owl person on the planet. He looked like an owl, inquisitive and wide-eyed, and full of magic and possibilities. Part of the reason I stayed in touch with him. David's owl work continues through the Global Owl Project and the people all over the planet that he brought into the world of these magical creatures that he loved with all of his heart, including the hundreds of young people he inspired to do something for owls. So many of them are professional experts in the field now. So in David's honor, we'd like to share the episode we did that featured his work with burrowing owls. I hope you carry him in your heart. Thank you, David. David Johnson wanted to go camping alone. It was the late '60s. He was 11 years old and started hiking out not far from his home in southern Minnesota.

David Johnson· Guest1:24

And I had my little backpack right on and my canvas pop t- you know, canvas pop-ups