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 [...]
Merlin sitting in the tree line. Photo by Stephanie Owens On Sunday, I walked onto the beach with hope and excitement. I wasn’t sure if the eggs would hatch that day, but I knew that they would come sometime soon. Almost as if a bad omen, a Merlin sat perched at the [...]
By the time you read this, four little Piping Plover chicks may be taking their first steps on the shore of Whitefish Point. With their hatch date right around the corner, June 23, I watch in anticipation and preparation. Piping Plover chicks are described as small cotton balls on two toothpicks, so naturally, I [...]
Piping Plover activity at Whitefish Point continues without a hitch as I patiently wait for June 23. Vie on shore. Photo by Stephanie Owens Each day, I check on the nest and watch for an incubation exchange between Vie and Little Bill Bob to make sure each is present and fulfilling their [...]
Monitoring this week consisted of the usual suspects. Lover Boy spends most of his time east of the boardwalk entrance. Wybie hangs out just west of it. The popular foraging area is directly between either territory, with Little Bill Bob in the mix, causing skirmishes amongst all the males. Vie and Bob continue to [...]
