We believed the juvenile Northern Saw-whet Owls (NSWO) had peaked last week after experiencing the third biggest night for them when we banded 46 on July 18. We were wrong. We banded 53 on July 25, a new record for the number of juvenile NSWO banded in a night. With one night left in [...]
Baby takes flight! Little Bill Bob peeping to Baby. Photo by Stephanie Owens On July 21, I observed Little Bill Bob with his chick lounging around near their old exclosure. Suddenly, Bob flew away out of sight. I sat there looking at Baby, a bit puzzled, wondering why Bob left in such [...]
This past week we experienced what will likely be this summer’s peak night. On July 18, we banded 49 Northern Saw-whet Owls (NSWO) and one Long-eared Owl. Of the saw-whets banded that night, 46 were juveniles and three were adults. This represents one of the most productive summer nights we have ever experienced. The [...]
Sunburning away again in Ploveritaville. The captive-reared chicks in their carrier. Photo by Stephanie Owens On Monday, July 15, three captive-reared Piping Plover chicks were released at Whitefish Point. They were salvaged as eggs from Sleeping Bear Dunes because their father went missing, which left the incubating duties solely to the mother. Once [...]
It was another productive week of owl banding. We banded 119 owls this week and recaptured three previously banded owls. It is becoming apparent that this will be a low season for adult Northern Saw-whet Owls (NSWO), but juvenile saw-whets continued in good numbers. Of the 119 owls banded since our last update, 89 [...]
Baby is a Bob! On Sunday, July 7, Baby was banded. His code is X,B/O/B:O,B (I say that he is a Bob because of the triple split Blue/Orange/Blue band). The number 270 appears on his blue band, and a green dot appears on the orange band just above. These are his chick bands, and [...]
The summer owl banding season began on July 1 and has gotten off to a productive start. Although adult Northern Saw-whet Owl (NSWO) numbers are below average, juvenile NSWO numbers are above average. We have banded 86 owls over the first nine nights — 84 NSWO and two Long-eared Owls. The 84 NSWO comprised 17 [...]
The last chick lives! "Baby" on June 29. Photo by Stephanie Owens After last week's turbulence, I'm happy to report our plover family is alive and well. My days are now occupied with watching Vie and Little Bill Bob care for their chick. I've been calling the chick "Baby" in reference to [...]
