Oct 12

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.

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Oct 10

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.

Oct 8

Eight Saw-whets, all hatch-year birds, were banded on the night of Oct 8.

The nets were open for 3.5 hours; they were opened late due to rain, which moved out of the area by 9pm.

 

Banding restarted

After being away for a couple of weeks (and during the peak of the migration, unfortunately), the nets are set up again.  Rain has prevented opening them for the last couple of nights, but four new Northern Saw-whets (all hatch-year) were banded on Monday night (Oct 5).

The weather is looking better towards the weekend.

Sep 19

Last night’s banding results:

  • 3 hatch-year Northern Saw-whets
  • 1 second-year Northern Saw-whet
  • 1 recapture of a Saw-whet that was banded here on Sep 7 of this year.

Thanks to Kim, Micki and her visitors.  Lots of owl photos and owl videos were taken last night.

The banding operation is being shut down for the next week or two; I will be out of town due to an illness in the family.

Sep 18

Eleven hatch-year Northern Saw-whets were banded last night.  Nets were open for 4.5 hours.  Conditions were ideal; dark and very little wind.  The nets were stiff with frost at closing.

Thanks to Barb and Hank for the help!