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.

Slow tonight; intermittent light rain and wind make conditions less than ideal.

One hatch-year Saw-whet banded tonight.

Banding has been slower for the last couple of nights.

Oct 17:  Three hatch-year Northern Saw-whets were banded.  Additionally, a Saw-whet banded earlier this season was recaptured.

Oct 18: Four hatch-year Northern Saw-whets were banded.  Thanks to Malcolm and Maggie Mae for visiting!

Maggie Mae releases a Saw-whet.  That’s not actually the owl’s shadow…

After a few nights of rain, we had a good night for banding.

A total of 12 Northern Saw-whets were caught; of these, three had already been banded here earlier in the season.  One of these has been in the area for about six weeks.  Additionally, nine new Saw-whets were banded- all were hatch-year birds.

Thanks to Leo, Bev, and Maggie Mae for visiting!

The last couple of days have been slow, with intermittent rain.

Oct 13: One hatch-year Saw-whet banded before the nets were closed due to rain.  Nets were open for one hour.

Oct 14: Two hatch-year Saw-whets banded; light rain intermittent through night.

Rain is forecast through the weekend.

Saw-whets are still coming through; seven hatch-year birds have been banded tonight so far, including this Saw-whet with an apparently injured eye: the left eye is dilated, but the right seems to be reacting to light properly.  This bird was heavy and had lots of fat, so it’s apparently eating well despite the eye problem.

Oct 11: Ten Northern Saw-whets were banded; all were hatch-year birds.

Nets were open for 4.5 hours.

Six Saw-whets were banded on Oct 10; all were hatch-year birds.

Visitors included a local Girl Scout group and people from the Kachemak Bay Birders.