If you follow WPBO on facebook, you know we’ve had a couple of exciting captures since our last post. Great Grays have been absent in recent years, but on the night of May 2 we banded the first one since 2013. It’s incredible to have the opportunity to see one of these amazing birds close up again, we have really missed them. Five nights later we banded the first Great Horned of the season. We’ve now banded six species of owls this season, and two more, Short-eared & Snowy, have been observed during the day.
Aside from the highlights, the nights have continued to produce decent results. We’re certainly not having large numbers of owls coming through, but after the results during the first month of the season we’re happy that the owls have continued migrating through the Point. So far this month we have banded 148 owls; 70 Northern Saw-whets, 8 Boreals, 63 Long-eareds, 5 Barreds and the aforementioned Great Gray and Great Horned. This brings the season total to 338 owls banded. The Boreals are likely done for the spring, we have not banded any since the 6th, but it is always possible to pick up a late straggler.
When working with raptors we pay special attention to the feet. Some do bite, falcons in particular, but it is the talons that most often inflict damage. Here are a few shots of some owl talons.
A Boreal Owl with a white talon.
All of the owls migrating through the Point
take advantage of the nocturnal songbird migration.
We regularly find feathers stuck to the talons
on Long-eared Owls.
People often comment on how much smaller the
feet and talons of a Great Gray are in comparison to
those of Great Horned and Snowy Owls. They are
much smaller, but they are still sharp and long and
we never want to find out how much they would hurt,
even a Saw-whet can deliver a jolt if it gets you in the
right spot.
Great Horned Owl feet. We never fail to be
impressed by the strength of Great Horned
and Snowy Owls. The strength of their feet
is absolutely amazing and their talons are huge!
Chris Neri & Nova Mackentley
