Not much activity during the last week due to so much rain, but there is finally a break in the rain that promises a few good nights for banding. Over the last week:
The season’s first Boreal Owl showed up on Sep. 6.
Over the past few nights:
Sep 8: 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl (rain closed things down early)
Sep 6: 3 Northern Saw-whets and one Boreal Owl
Sep 5: 4 Northern Saw-whets
Sep 3: 2 Northern Saw-whets.
All of these birds (Sep 3 – Sep 8) were hatch-year birds except for the Boreal Owl (2nd year).
Our thousandth Northern Saw-whet showed up last night.
Although we hit the thousandth owl banded last fall, this was the thousandth of this species banded here in the 7+ seasons of banding.
Recent results:
The owl banding project has started for the Fall 2016 season. Nets were set up in mid-August and have been opened for several nights now that weather has permitted.
As of Aug 29, 9 new hatch-year Northern Saw-whets have been banded. The first bird caught this season was a return visitor from last October.
Weather looks good for banding the next several nights.
The first Western Screech Owl for this location was banded tonight (Nov 4). The audio lure has included 5 min. of Western Screech Owl per hour for the last six years here, but it hasn’t been successful at attracting one until tonight.
No other owls were banded tonight.
Western Screech Owl
Western Screech Owl
Western Screech Owl
Still a few owls around.
Nov 1: 2 Hatch-year Saw-whets banded.
Nov 2: 2 Hatch-year Saw-whets and one Boreal Owl banded.
Nov 3: Didn’t open nets; nets were full of ice and frozen into solid ropes. Watched the incredible aurora instead.
Northern Saw-whet vs. Boreal Owl faces:
Things seem to be slowing down.
Oct 24: One hatch-year Northern Saw-whet banded. Thanks to Carmen, Eryn and Indigo for visiting!
Oct 25: Four hatch-year Northern Saw-whets and one Boreal Owl banded.
No owls have been banded since then; nets were kept closed for three of those nights due to weather. Nets were opened on the nights of the 28th and 31st; no owls caught.
Carmen’s photo- owl double-checks my work
This season’s 200th owl was just banded; it was one of only a few adult Saw-whets caught this year.
Three total banded tonight; the above adult Saw-whet, and two hatch-year Saw-whets.
Another good night.
Eight new owls were banded; all were hatch-year Saw-whets.
Additionally, one Saw-whet that was banded 6 days ago made a return visit.
Like the previous night, the owls started showing up around 11pm. Nets were open for 6.5 hours.
Banding is picking up again; first night for a few days without rain/wind.
Eleven owls banded tonight: ten Northern Saw-whets and one Boreal Owl. All but one of the Saw-whets were hatch-year birds; the only adult was a 2nd year bird.
Nets were open for 6.5 hours- the owls didn’t start showing up until about 11pm.
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