Varying weather conditions have created some stops and starts to the owl migration recently, but overall it was another productive week. The few adults we are still catching are in various stages of molt. The one pictured in this blog has dropped its tail feathers. You can see the fluffy, white undertail coverts poking out between the wingtips where the tail should be. It’s shaping up to be a decent season for Northern Saw-whet Owls, as we have now banded 265 juveniles and 90 adults. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Long-eared Owls this summer. This spring’s record long-eared number had us hopeful that this would be a particularly good summer for them. Not only has it not come to fruition, but the nine banded so far is actually on the low end of what we have experienced in the past.
I want to thank Laura Porter for her hard work last month. Laura was my banding partner in July but has left to start her fall field season. I’m happy to now be joined by Kate Maley, last fall’s lead owl bander, for the remainder of the season.
~ by Chris Neri
2021 Summer Lead Owl Bander
You can read the owl banding weekly blog post and follow WPBO’s social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for highlights this season from Lead Owl Bander Chris Neri and Assistant Owl Banders Laura Porter and Kate Maley.
Owl Banding Presentations — We apologize, but live education demonstrations of our owl banding program will not be offered this season.
