The photo above was taken on the last night of banding (9-Nov) on Pointe La Barbe. I’ve enjoyed this beautiful view of the straits for the last several weeks and, I have to say, I’ll certainly miss it. If you didn’t have the chance to make it up to visit the banding station this season and see the view with your own eyes, I certainly hope you can stop out next season and see it in person. Not to mention, there is a good chance you’ll get to see a northern saw-whet owl or two on your visit, as well.
We weren’t as busy on our last night as we had hoped. It was such a clear night with light winds from the north, but the owls-as they often do-surprised us and we received a visit from only one northern saw-whet. Still, it was great to wrap up the season with one, lone owl instead of zero.
The season total was 235 northern saw-whet owls and four barred owls. We captured eight foreign retraps (owls that already had bands placed on them by other banders). Four of those saw-whets were banded at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory during their spring banding program; one in 2011, two in 2013, and one in 2014. One of the saw-whets was banded north of Duluth, Minnesota in the fall of 2013 and one was banded near Newark, Indiana in the fall of 2011. No information is available at this time for the other two banded birds.
I’d like to thank everyone that came out to the banding station during the season. It’s been such an honor to be a part of the raptor watch fall program and I hope to contribute again in the future.
All the best,
Selena
