As we prepared our statement yesterday lauding the President and Sen. Dianne Feinstein for ushering in three new national monuments in the California desert, we noticed one bird among many on the list: the Elf Owl. Sure, the other birds affected by this decision are impressive -- Golden Eagle, Swainson's Hawk, Vermillion Flycatcher, Least Bell's Vireo, and so on -- but the Elf Owl is unique. Turns out the Elf Owl is among the world's smallest owls, just about the same size as a sparrow. It maxes out at about six inches long. It weighs about 1.4 ounces, making it the lightest owl. The northernmost edge of this bird's range is in the new Mojave Trails National Monument, but good luck seeing them. This is about the hardest place to bird in the Lower 48 and, oh, the bird is nocturnal.