Owl banding has started a bit late here in Homer, AK this year. The nets are usually set up during the last week in August, but near-continuous bad weather delayed things. Nets were finally set up on Sep 1, and banding efforts started on Sep 2.

As of tonight (Sep 11), 24 Northern Saw-whets have been banded- all hatch-year birds.

After a few nights of banding, this location’s 2000th Northern Saw-whet Owl was banded.

We almost hit #2000 the previous night, but one hold-out preferred to watch the proceedings from the trees instead.

Banding will continue through the end of October; I try to open nets every night that weather permits.