As we approach the end of the summer owl banding season, things have remained relatively slow, but fairly steady. We had begun to wonder if the owls were going to trickle down to the end of their summer movements when the night of the 18th produced a pretty unexpected surprise. We banded six Saw-whets, five [...]
We unfortunately don't have a whole lot to report. As expected, this has proven to be a down reproductive year for Northern Saw-whet Owls and they have been very slow recently. The adult Saw-whets came to a screeching halt on July 18. Juvenile Saw-whets have continued, but at a trickle. Thankfully, we are also catching [...]
As we expected, this summer is proving to be a low year in Northern Saw-whet Owl reproduction. Last summer was the third time we experienced a peak in juvenile Saw-whet numbers since beginning the summer research in 2006. Both of the previous peak years were followed immediately by low years, so Ryan Steiner & I [...]
Things have been pretty slow since the last post. We've been able to band every night so far this season and have banded a total of 41 Northern Saw-whets, 29 adults and 12 juveniles. The seven nights since our last post have produced 9 adults and 6 juveniles. Given we don't have much to share [...]
Juvenile Northern Saw-whet Owl We began the 13th year of WPBO's summer owl research on July 1 and the season has gotten of to a modest start. We've been able to run nets every night so far and have banded 26 Northern Saw-whets and also captured two that were previously banded. Six of [...]
If you follow WPBO on facebook, you know we’ve had a couple of exciting captures since our last post. Great Grays have been absent in recent years, but on the night of May 2 we banded the first one since 2013. It’s incredible to have the opportunity to see one of these amazing birds [...]
A Northern Saw-whet Owl peering out of its hut. If you have been to the owl banding on a busy night, you may have seen us placing Saw-whets or Boreals into one of the huts that we place them in to await their turn for banding. Every once in a while one will [...]
The spring's 300th Long-eared Owl! We'd like to start off by thanking all of this year's Spring Fling attendees for their interest & support! Thankfully the owls were cooperative over Spring Fling weekend and many attendees were able to see some of the Long-eareds and Northern Saw-whets we banded that weekend. The nights [...]
An early Eastern Whip-poor-will on April 21. Photo by Chris Neri The current weather pattern has really slowed things down the last couple of nights, but prior to that the nights had continued to be productive. Since our last post we have banded 179 owls and recaptured four more previously banded [...]
First Boreal Owl of the season. We mentioned in our last post that the forecast at the time contained both conditions that would keep us from being able to open the nets and conditions that looked very good for migration. The forecast proved true on both counts. Heavy rain on the 9th washed [...]
