We’ve been conducting our fall banding for a little over two weeks now and we’ve caught 85 Northern Saw- whet Owls!
We take size measurements on all the owls we catch, and these measurements help us to determine whether an owl is likely a male or a female. Did you know female owls are generally bigger than male owls? Most of the birds we capture are females, which is similar to other banding stations across the country. This suggests that females are the more migratory sex, and that males possibly stay closer to their breeding territories instead of flying south for the winter.
Next week we’ll share some more information on how we age birds! But take a look at the wing Picture in slide 6 and see if you can guess how old this owl is based on its flight feather pattern. Can you tell if it has new feathers or old feathers or both? Find out next week!
I love this picture. They’re like “can you believe this?!”
It was so hard to pick which image to lead with. These are all so great!
The way they’re holding them looks like they’re holding the feet together, which probably makes them easier and safer to handle?
Yup, keeps both parties protected!
They look so indignant, how dare these people manhandle them! <3
I’m not exactly how accurate it is but I hear some of these little guys come from so far north that this may have been the first time they have ever encountered a human.
That would probably make the experience all the more crazy for them!
Will those little feets be able to hold onto the title another year?!
What do you call the things the owls are on in the photo?
Can you clarify/circle which things you are referring to? Not trying to be dense, but they all just look to be in people’s hands to me. 😊
people’s hands
Featherless fiends, beakless bothers, grating grabbers…
I didn’t want to be a smarty pants, but I cant stop the rest of you! 😆
The things the owls are on! One seems mostly in frame but covered by other stuff, one only the part with the owl perched is visible.
