Not a lot has changed since our last post in regard to the owl migration. We continue to be surprised by the low number of Northern Saw-whet Owls. Nightly totals for saw-whets once again failed to hit double digits during the past week. On the plus side, we did recently band two more Boreal Owls. That said, if this does prove to be the peak in their irruption cycle, it looks like it will be the second consecutive peak spring with boreal numbers much lower than those experienced in past years. Although it is not a peak year for Long-eared Owls, we are thankful that they at least are migrating in expected numbers this spring. To date, we have banded 170 saw-whets, 19 boreals, 142 long-eareds, four barreds, and two great horneds.
It’s impossible to know why the saw-whet numbers are down this spring. We, like most field people, obsess over weather patterns to try to figure out what is going on with migration. The resources available now are pretty incredible compared to those when we started fieldwork. Not only are there multiple online sites to check for general forecasts, but you can scroll through forecast models to look at frontal systems and look at active wind maps. Another advancement that we could never have anticipated is cell phones.
It’s rare, but every couple of years an owl we are working with will drop its cell phone without realizing that it has done so. We’re a bit embarrassed to admit this, but we can’t resist the opportunity to look at the phone to see if there is anything on it that will provide insight into where they have wintered, or where they are heading for the breeding season. The other night we placed a saw-whet into one of the huts we have for saw-whets and boreals so that it could wait in comfort while we were banding a couple of long-eareds. When we were done with the long-eareds, I grabbed it out of the hut and we noticed that it had dropped its cell phone. While I banded it, Nova took the phone into the other room and discovered that it had just sent the following email and photo while it was in the hut.
Hi Mom,
Well, as per usual, you were right. I should have waited down south with everyone until the travel ban was lifted before migrating. After waiting too long last spring, and not being able to find a good cavity during my first breeding season, I just couldn’t stop obsessing about getting back up north in hopes of snagging that awesome cavity that I found last fall. I also didn’t think the humans would really be able to enforce the travel ban on us. Now don’t be alarmed, but I just got detained at Whitefish Point. I know that you have told us the stories about the humans catching birds and putting anklets on them, but we always thought you were just trying to scare us. Yes, we have seen Uncle Joe’s anklet, but if anyone would wear an anklet just to trick us kids into believing the stories, it would be him. They have placed me in a square cavity, which is weird, but I heard them say they were just putting me in here while they “banded” a couple of long-eareds — they apparently call the anklets “bands.” The long-eareds bring me to my next point.
You were also right about long-eareds being too neurotic to shelter in place. Since I left, I have only seen one saw-whet. You know how much I try to avoid casual conversation with strangers during migration, but I have admittedly been feeling a bit isolated lately. On the fourth night of my trip, I noticed some bird feeders and swooped in hoping for an easy meal, when I suddenly noticed another saw-whet perched nearby. After four nights of not seeing anyone, I couldn’t help myself. I flew to a perch and just blurted out, “Hey, where you headed?” He was a nice guy who was headed back to northern Quebec. Luckily, he spoke English very well, you know how terrible my French is. I had him take the attached photo of me. Like me, he had not seen any other saw-whets, but noted that long-eareds were migrating in good numbers. Long-eareds are clearly not obeying the travel ban at all. I hadn’t even thought about this, but he said that he bets long-eareds are not social distancing at all either, and simply just continuing to roost communally. I bet he’s right. What is wrong with those psychos?
Anyway, I’m not sure how much more time I have here. I may not have cell service for a few nights, but hopefully, I will be tooting away by that amazing cavity soon. Whoa, I just cast a really small pellet. Must be someone I ate, hee-hee. It has to be that Pygmy Shrew I had last night. I know, TMI, sorry. I can just picture you giving me your “Mom look” and saying, “I’d roll my eyes if I could.” Oops, here they come, gotta go.
Love you,
Chuck
Chuck’s photo for his mom.
Chuck’s hut with his cell phone and Pygmy Shrew pellet.
While we didn’t learn where Chuck had wintered, or where he was headed, it was amazing to get this personal insight into the life of a saw-whet. Nova put the phone back, and when I finished banding him, we put him back in the hut so that he could get the phone back and his eyes could adjust back to darkness before being released. He got the phone but left the pellet. Good luck, Chuck; we hope you get that cavity!
We also had a cool saw-whet recapture this week. We didn’t band it originally but have recaptured it previously. This owl was banded as a hatch-year bird in Wisconsin in October 2014 on its first migration. We first recaptured it on April 8, 2017, during its third spring migration. We recaptured it again this year on April 26 during its sixth spring migration. It had an impressively advanced molt last year, replacing all feathers on its right wing and all but two on its left wing.
The saw-whet’s right wing with all new feathers.
The saw-whet’s left wing with just two old feathers.
Aside from the owls, the amphibians have started to become active. So far we’ve seen Spring Peepers, Wood Frogs, American Toads, Blue-spotted Salamanders, Spotted Salamanders, and Red Efts.
Blue-spotted Salamander
Chris Neri & Nova Mackentley
WPBO Spring Owl Banders
If you are considering visiting the Point, please read this important message from Michigan Audubon and WPBO Field Staff.
Maneuvering the ever-changing implications of COVID-19 has necessitated constant adaptation and evaluation for us all. Michigan Audubon and WPBO have been proactive in taking measures that protect our staff, our physical community in Paradise, and the Michigan birding community, and we have found American Birding Association’s recent guidelines on birding and social distancing a useful resource for guiding bird-related travel decisions. While there are hopeful signs that we are rounding the corner with this virus, Michigan Audubon does not want to sow precocious optimism that encourages long-distance travel. Please take a minute to read these ABA guidelines, and to imagine them through the lens of the eastern Upper Peninsula, which does not have the medical resources of Michigan’s more-developed areas. Chippewa County and its adjacent counties have just three hospitals, and only one of these has more than 100 beds; they all are at least an hour’s drive from the Point. WPBO appreciates and requests your continued conscientiousness as the season’s migration begins to ramp up, and does not condone birding travel that is not local. Keep in mind that the Owl’s Roost Gift Shop and public observation of owl banding are currently closed. In the meantime, we will virtually share the Point with you as best we can until it is safe for all parties to enjoy it together. We hope that will be soon.
