As we know from Gordon Lightfoot’s infamous song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”, the gales of November are not good for freighters… or owl movement in this case. From November 1st-6th the number of captures have decreased exponentially. This is not for a lack of trying as we have been open most nights this past week and captured only 4 more Saw-whets. One was a foreign recap and 3 were newly banded birds. The only owls that presumably remain are those that have decided to leave later and wait last minute before embarking on their migration.
In other news we have received information that a Saw-whet we banded here on September 29 was recaptured just a few days ago in all the way in Du Bois, Pennsylvania! From St. Ignance, that is approximately 600 miles away, quite the journey for this small owl to do in about a month. Our season here is almost over, as banding duties finish on November 10th. We stay positive that these last few days will bring in a few more owls. Season totals are as follows:
NSWO: 274
LEOW: 1
BDOW: 1
Total owls: 276
