We started the 20th season of summer owl banding at Whitefish Point on July 1. We never quite know what to expect at the start of the summer season. The vast majority of the owls that have been banded during the summer have been juvenile plumage Northern Saw-whet Owls (NSWO). The number of juveniles banded each year varies significantly with the natural 4-5 year breeding cycle of NSWO. Over 600 juveniles were banded during the most productive summer season, and as few as 59 were banded during the summer with the lowest breeding productivity. We’re currently overdue for a crash, but are still hoping for a relatively productive season for the juvenile NSWO.

Adult NSWO occur in their highest numbers in the first two weeks of the summer season. As the adult numbers decrease in mid-July, we typically see the juvenile numbers increase during the second half of July. It’s far too early to have any insight into what this summer will bring, but we’re happy that the first two juveniles have already arrived at the Point. So far, we have banded 24 adult and two juvenile saw-whets.

Below are photos of the two juvenile NSWO. There have been a few peer-reviewed papers published on the variation in eye color in saw-whets, speculating that it may be age or sex related. All I can say is that I have seen juveniles of both sexes with eyes as pale or as dark as any I have seen on adults. I have only ever seen one other NSWO with eyes as dark as those on the bird on the right in the below photo, as compared to the the other juvenile on the left with typical eye color. The bird on the left has just started molting into its adult plumage. You can see some of the white-tipped ear flap feathers along the edge of the facial disc, compared to the pure brown juvenile ear flap feathers on the bird on the right.

The season’s first two juvenile Northern Saw-whet Owls.

Nature Notes:

The Point has an amazing diversity of moth species. These two are among my favorites, one for its beauty, the other for its evocative name. The top one is the stunning St. Lawrence Tiger Moth. The bottom photo is a Night-wandering Dagger. It’s name always causes me to imagine the amusing, or terrifying, image of a dagger just walking through the woods at night. I also love seeing the bewildered look on people’s faces when I say to them, “I saw a Night-wandering Dagger in the woods at the Point last night.”

The summer banding is one of the most unique long-term owl monitoring projects in North America. Help us by supporting it! We hope to raise $2000 to completely fund this season, and even if you can spare $20 that would be so helpful. Our owl banders are working very hard to collect information about this movement of juvenile saw-whets and we really need to provide them compensation for their efforts. You can donate at: www.friendsofwp.org/donate and there is also a monthly and yearly option if you would like to donate on a regular basis and not have to think about it. Thank you and please share with your friends and family!

We have recently joined Instagram. We will try to share updates across all platforms, and you can always go to our website: www.friendsofwp.org. Social media links are below (the little icons).

The Summer Owl banding Begins

Spring Encounters