The last few days have brought a slow, steady trickle of owls.  Based on previous years, this week should see the largest number of owls passing through the area.

Sep 18: Six Northern Saw-whets, all hatch-year birds.

Sep 19: Six Northern Saw-whets, all but one hatch-year; one second-year.

Sep 20: Seven Northern Saw-whets (6 hatch-year and 1 second-year), and one Boreal.

Boreal owl numbers seem low compared to previous years.  Usually I end up with a 5-to-1 or 6-to-1 ratio of Northern Saw-whets to Boreals; this year I’ve only banded three Boreals so far out of 62 birds banded.