Adopt an Owl

Adopting an owl is a unique and rewarding way to help our banding program and contribute to owl migration studies and raptor conservation.

Whitefish Point is one of the top owl migration spots in the country. Because owls are nocturnal, we are not able to gather migration data through visual observations. WPBO uses banding as a way to gather information about owls as they move through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in spring, summer, and fall. Owls are captured in fine-mesh nets throughout the night and are fitted with a light-weight aluminum band by our banding experts. Various measurements such as weight and wing measurement are taken to determine age, gender, and body condition. The owl is then released to continue its migration. All information gathered from banding is sent to the National Bird Banding Lab in Maryland. If the bird is caught again by another bander, or found by a citizen, the information can be retrieved to help map the path of the bird’s migration.

When you adopt an owl, you will receive:

a 5 x 7 color photograph of your selected species
a certificate with your name and a profile for the species adopted
the satisfaction of knowing that your adoption is helping WPBO continue this important research