Banding is still slower than expected for this time of year- the last couple of weeks in September are usually the most active for the season. We’re catching owls, but just a few (1-6) per night.

All birds banded this week were hatch-year birds.

Activity has increased a little bit over the past couple of nights.

Sep 20:
6 Northern Saw-whets banded, all hatch-year birds.
1 Boreal Owl banded- this was the first Boreal for the season (and this location’s 1700th owl banded overall). This Boreal was an adult (after second-year) bird.

Thanks to Tara Shea for visiting!

Sep 18:
7 Northern Saw-whets banded. All but one were hatch-year birds; the remaining owl was a 2nd year bird (and the first adult Saw-whet banded this season).

Both nights included banding of owls transitioning out of juvenal plumage:

Off to a somewhat slow start. We’re banding owls almost every night, but no big nights yet, usually just 1 – 3 owls per night.

All birds banded so far have been hatch-year Northern Saw-whet Owls.

We’re up and running for another season of owl banding.

Nets were set up on Aug 31, 2019 and have been opened 7 nights since then; we’re starting to get a few Saw-whets.

So far:

Aug 31: 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl (hatch-year)
Sep 1: 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl (hatch-year)
Sep 3: No owls
Sep 4: 2 Northern Saw-whet Owls (all hatch-year)
Sep 5: 4 Northern Saw-whet Owls (all hatch-year)
Sep 6: 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl (hatch-year)
Sep 8: 6 Northern Saw-whet Owls (all hatch-year)

Where possible, nets will be open every night (weather permitting) between now and Oct 31.