The 2020 banding season started off here last night with nine Northern Saw-whet Owls banded. All were hatch-year birds.

The nets were only open for two hours; it’s still not dark enough to to open nets until around 10:45pm. Opening time will get earlier fairly quickly through the next month.

The net arrangement is the same as last year, with three 9m nets surrounding the audio lure, and an additional 12m net south of the lure, along the edge of the spruce stand there. Two new nets were purchased this year to replace the two lost to moose towards the end of last season.