No banding on two nights this week due to rain, and wind made things less than optimal during two more nights.

• 9/23: 1 Northern Saw-whet.
• 9/25: 5 Northern Saw-whets.
• 9/27: 3 new Northern Saw-whets, 1 returning Northern Saw-whet first banded in 2012, and 1 Boreal Owl.  Poppy Benson’s girl scout group visited, but left before any owls showed up.  Wind died down around midnight.
• 9/28: 2 Boreal Owls.  Windy all night.  Visitors: Lori and Erick Paulsrud.

After a slow week, things picked up a little bit last night. The night of the 22nd was the first night for a while that wasn’t too bright due to the moon.

Sep 16: No owls.

Sep 17: 1 Northern Saw-whet. Also one Wilson’s Snipe in the nets; I get one or two each season. I think that they are attracted to the Boreal Owl call, which sounds similar to a winnowing snipe.

Sep 18: 1 Northern Saw-whet.

Sep 19: 1 Northern Saw-whet.  Visitors/assistants: Betsy Rogers and Gil Carr.

Sep 20: No owls. Tonight included a visit by the local Jr. Birders group- Nolan, Landon, Owen, Griffin, and Erick; also parents Lori and Susan. With no owls being caught, the birders played cards instead.  Visitors/assistants also included Betsy Rogers and Gil Carr.

Sep 21: Didn’t open nets due to rain.

Sep 22: 4 Northern Saw-whets and 2 Boreal Owls. Also one banded Saw-whet that was banded here on Aug. 31 of this year.  It was overcast, so dark despite the moon.

Seven owls banded last night, despite a bright moon:

• Five new Northern Saw-whet Owls
• One new Boreal Owl
• One recaptured Northern Saw-whet that was banded here 30 days ago

Rain prevented banding three nights this week, and put an early end to banding another two nights.  Still typically banding a few owls per night:

Sep 7: 1 Northern Saw-whet. I was joined by Lori and Erick Paulsrud and Osi Kaspi.
Sep 10: 3 Northern Saw-whets
Sep 11: 3 Northern Saw-whets. Assistance by Lori and Erick Paulsrud.
Sep 13: 3 Northern Saw-whets.  Assistance by Lori and Erick Paulsrud.

Things are starting to pick up a little bit.
Four new Northern Saw-whet Owls banded (all hatch year).

The season’s first recapture showed up; a Northern Saw-whet Owl banded here on Sep 21, 2012 made a return visit. It was aged as a hatch year last year, and showed the typical 2nd year molt pattern this year.

The first owl banded this season on Aug 18 also showed up again.

I’m not sure what it was about the night’s conditions, but every owl caught was up in the top panel of the mist nets, higher up than has been typical here. It was clear and dark with no wind/rain.

After a couple of rainy nights, nets were opened for a couple of hours on September 3, before rain again forced closing. Two Northern Saw-whets were banded, including the first non-hatch-year bird of the season (a second year bird).

Four Saw-whets were banded on the night of September 4. All four were very large hatch-year females, all over 100g- the largest was 108g. One of these four was trapped again half an hour after release.

Season totals so far:
Northern Saw-whet Owl: 18
Boreal Owl: 1

Lots of rainy nights over the last week; nets were not opened due to weather on Aug 28, 29, and Sep 1.

Two Northern Saw-whets were banded on Aug. 31.

2013 totals so far:
12 Northern Saw-whet Owls
1 Boreal Owl