We had the first snow that stuck a few days ago- there’s still about half an inch covering the net lanes.  Weather (and a dead audio lure battery) limited banding for the last several days.

• Oct 22: 4 Northern Saw-whets banded.  There were several very vocal owls responding to the lure through the night again; it seems that they are more vocal this year than during previous seasons.
• Oct 21: No owls banded.  Opened nets for two hours before the lure battery died (this happens when I forget to charge it for a couple of weeks).  The nets were frozen solid during closing.
• Oct 20: No owls banded.  Opened for a little while but the snow picked up and was sticking to the nets, making them quite visible.
• Oct 19: Three Northern Saw-whets banded.

Still catching a few owls every night that weather permits opening the nets.

Over the last week or so:

Oct 18: 3  Northern Saw-whets and one Boreal Owl.  Visitors included students from Kenai Peninsula College.

Oct 15: 3 Northern Saw-whets and one Boreal Owl.  Visitors included Gary Lyon and students from Kenai Peninsula College.

Oct 14: 2 Northern Saw-whets and one recapture of a Saw-whet banded here in 2012.

Oct 13: 4 Northern  Saw-whets and one returning Saw-whet that was banded here in September of this year.

Oct 11: 2 Northern Saw-whets

Things have been pretty slow for the last few days.  The bright full moon lights up the net setup too much; if I can see the nets without a flashlight, I’m sure the owls can.  A full lunar eclipse at around 2AM AKDT Wednesday morning (10/8) brought just enough darkness to bring in the last owl for the night.

Oct 7: 4 Northern Saw-whets

Oct 6: No owls banded

Oct 5: One Northern Saw-whet

Lunar Eclipse early Wednesday morning (around 2:30AM AKDT, Oct 8, 2014)

It’s unusual that I am able to band this many nights in a row with no bad weather; tonight will be the 21st straight night.  The last few nights’ results:

Oct 4: 5 Northern Saw-whet Owls, one Boreal Owl.

Oct 3: 1 Boreal Owl.  Poppy Benson brought her group of Girl Scouts for their third attempt at seeing an owl; we finally succeeded.

Oct 2: 2 Northern Saw-whet Owls

Oct 1: 5 Northern Saw-whet Owls.

Sep 30: Three Northern Saw-whet Owls and one Boreal.

Martin sent a few photos of his ornithology class during their owl banding visit:

Last night was the 15th straight night of good banding weather, and the 15th straight night that owls have been banded.  Tonight looks good too.

Results for the last few nights:

Sep 29: 3 Northern Saw-whets banded.  Thanks to Martin Renner and his ornithology class for participating!

Sep 28: 7 Saw-whets and 1 Boreal Owl.  Visitors: Rebekah, Brad, and Michele- thanks for the help!

Sep 27: 5 Saw-whets

Sep 26: 6 Saw-whets and 1 Boreal Owl

Sep 25: 4 Saw-whets and 1 Boreal Owl

The 100th owl of the season was banded on Wed. night (Sep 24).  This is the first triple-digit season since 2011.

100th owl banded this season

Totals for the last few days:

• Sep 24: 8 Northern Saw-whet Owls and 1 Boreal Owl
• Sep 23: 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl
• Sep 22: 6 new and 1 recaptured Northern Saw-whet Owls.  The recaptured bird was originally banded here on Oct 1, 2013.

Season totals so far: 92 Saw-whets, 8 Boreals, 1 recapture.

Last night was the busiest night so far this season with 22 owls banded: 18 Norther Saw-whets and 4 Boreals.  All but one of the Saw-whets were hatch-year birds. There were still owls vocalizing in the area when I closed up the nets at 3am.  Tonight may be another good night.

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.

The night of Sep 17 was mostly clear, calm, no rain, no full moon- good conditions for owl banding (this has been rare lately).

Ten Northern Saw-whet Owls were banded.  All ten were hatch-year birds.  This brings the season total to 40 Saw-whets and 2 Boreals.