Closed for the Season

Well, I closed everything down this week! I just haven't had much time to get out,and thought I had better get it done before the Snow Flies.
 It was not a great season in general, but I will accept it for what it was, after all I am in it for the long haul and each year is diffeent for whatever reasons.
 The weather was the biggest factor,as it always is ,for good or bad!
We had far to many days of South winds that just don't help with the overall flight of migrating Raptors.Much of the winds were very strong and warm. Rain kept me from getting out on more than a dozen days and work got in the way!
 Overall individual species numbers were down in comparison to previous years. We did how ever set 2 new "Station Highs" both on the same day!
Broad-winged Hawks and Bald Eagles

They came on an All-time High Count day at the station , and if it wasn't for this day the Season would have been a total Crash!

 I finished with 14 Hawks Banded ,which is the lowest total in 6 years of Operation.
Red-tailed Hawks seemed to fail breeding wise , with mostly Adults being caught and not many being seen! The summer weather I thought was near perfect for Breeding, but maybe the Food Source just wasn't that great! They usually make up 75% of Hawks banded at the station, but this season made up for about 25%.

 The Owl migration was also slow, due to the same problems as the Hawk migration.
I finished the year with 76 new Northern Saw-whet Owls and 1 Screech Owl.

 6 Owls were caught that had been previously banded. Last year I caught 100 Owls and none were previously banded. 2 of them were from Whitefish Point!
 I had one week that kept me busy with 54 Owls.

 There were many highlights, such as when Minna came out and the night of the Northern Lights, so not all was lost!

 Hopefully we will have a good winter and catch some Snowy Owls and hope for some surprises!

Northern Lights Oct 24 2011

On the 24th of October I opened my Nets for another night of Owl Banding! Hoping to continue where I left off on the previous Saturday(Feel like a Bander Again). Under cool clear skies with a hint of a Northwest wind conditions seemed perfect!
 After 2 netchecks of nothing I was starting to get a little discouraged! As I walked out for the 3rd netcheck, I thought that it was seemingly brighter! I looked half heartedly and saw no Moon in site and dismissed it as being tired. I checked my nets and found 1 Northern Saw-whet hanging in the Back nets. I did the normal thing of Banding,weighing, measuring and recording then proceeded to go out and release the Owl. As I watched the Owl fly off my hand , my eyes turned to the Skies! They were on fire with Greens,Whites and Reds of Northern Lights!
 Wow,wow,wow Holly @$#%  were the first words out of my mouth! I couldn't believe the pagentry of it all, they were quite litterally engulfing the night sky! I have never seen such colours this far south,! Only in northern Alberta and Ontario had I seen such spectular displays!
 I called my kids and told them to" get outside and look up" !Todd who had answered the phone went out (with the phone in hand) and exclaimed "Holly @#$%, everyone get out here and see the Northern Lights they are so F*&^ing Awesome" ! I couldn't help but laugh with joy, although I told him he didn't need to swear!
 I could everyone coming out and asking "what ", then hear thier excited comments of how amazing it was.
 I told him to enjoy them while they lasted ! He said"thanks for letting us know about them , It is so bloody awesome" . I wished I could have taken credit for the Display, but was very happy to atleast been able to share with him and his Brother Liam, Sister Michaela and their mother!
 Next I called Nigel at Scanlon Creek, who was also banding and had a large group of people from the Brereton Field Naturalists with him. He said thanks and out they went! He called back later in the evening and told me how everyone enjoyed the Light Show!It was definately a highlight for them.

 I know that it is another night that I won't soon forget, even though I only caught the one Owl that night!


These are borrowed images!

Pics from Minnas Visit !

Minna and her first Encounter with a Northern Saw-whet Owl!

This Eastern Screech Owl was a surprise Bonus!

Liam releases the Screech Owl!

A visitor from Ft. Laudon Pennsylvania! Previously Banded!

Paul watches as he releases a Saw-whet !

Ocean prepares to release her first Saw-whet Owl!

Rain , a milli-second after releasing a Saw-whet.............................His expression is priceless!

This is a Hatch-year's wing under Blacklight! Even amounts of pink luminson tells us the feathers are all the same age!

Preparing to release the last Owl of the night!

The Saw-whet Owl and Minna making a connection! This was a powerful moment for me!

I couldn't add the images directly to my original post for some reason, so you will have to read the previous post to learn a little more! Thanks Pat for taking the photos!

FINALLY............I feel like a Bander again!

Over the past week, I have been able to get out 3 nights for Owls(will go again tonight) with great results!

Last Saturday with a crowd of friends we were able to catch and Band 12 Northern Saw-whet Owls, and 1 |Eastern Screech Owl. We also caught a previously Banded NSWO that was originally banded Nov 7th 2010 in FT. Laudon , Pennsylvania.

This was a special night as one of my Guest is a Parapelegic and also has ALS. Minna has been very been an inspiration to me since I meet her in 2008. I know that with her there is no BS , that what she has to say is sincere and meaninful.

I don't think I have ever meet someone that makes me feel so at ease with my self ! It was so very important for me to have Minna come out and get a chance to experience the "Power and Excitment" that these little Owls offer. Time is of the essance for Minna and unfortunately She lives with the inevitable thought of "Is Today the Day?"! I don't know how she manages to move forward with such Strength, that she offers to others. I am forever grateful for the fact that our Paths have crossed!

When Minna let the final Owl of the evening go, I was choked up with emotion. The Owl got out of her Grip and sat for a moment on her Hand. Looked around at all the people,back at Minna and clacked it's Bill. Finally it flew up and landed on the Peak of the Barn Roof and looked back down on Us, on Minna and flew off into the Darkness. For me I thought it had said something to Minna ! It made the connection, that so few ever get a chance to have !

It is a moment that I will forever remember!

On the following Wednesday I caught another 12 new NSWO's and 2 previously Banded birds on what was a Night that others gave up on. And on Thursday another 16 new Owls before having to go to work.

I almost called in sick as there were Owls all around and I think I would have easily beaten the Stations 1 night record of 22.

On Tuesday I had my best Hawk banding day of the season, catching 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk and 3 Red-tailed Hawks.

I wished I had a camer to show some of the Hawks, but that was in a previous post! I will have pics of last Saturday with Minna , when my Friend Pat gets a chance to send them to me!

Thanks Pat, for bring Minna and the Kids out ! And Paul for the treats ! You all made that night one Very Special Night!, I could never do Her justice with words!

Bllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh !

Well, this is not what it is supposed to be! The weather although has been more than Stellar for people who like warm temps year round, Sucks for those of us that Band Raptors!

With over 32 hours of effort in the Owl Banding, only 19 Owls have been Banded at the Innisfree site. This is our second slowest start since we started in 2006. At the Scanlon site, Nigel hasn't done much better with about 22 Owls. He has put in about double the effort(it's his Job) than me, so it is even worse !

On the Hawk side of things, Nigel continues to get 1 every couple days, but we are well below where we expected to be by this time! I have banded 6 Hawks sofar, which is a 70% decrease from last year. We just aren't seeing many Birds either.

This is all weather related and we really want the "warm nice "weather to Piss Off !

Come on Already!

Well, aside from the Big Day on the 15th, it is back to a slow Crawl! There has been next to no flight and the weather isn't helping!

We can only wait for the change to trigger the Birds! It is a definate test of ones patients of watching the Skies and seeing only a handful of Birds at most!

Owl Season is also upon us and we have managed 1 night with no success. Tonight was supposed to be Raining when I checked at 3:30 so I went for a nap(I am sleepdeprived)! When I got up at 7:30 the weather was perfect to try, but I am not going to try! Could be I am tired of sitting and getting nothing, or because I am still recouping from this Cold! Or maybe it is both!

I know we will have Great Days and Nights ahead and , we have to be patient. They are only just getting Owls in Picton, so this weekend should give us our first Taste of NSWO's of the season.

On a differant note(Station Based), I was robbed ! Someone broke into our Station and stole My Digtal Camera, a pair of Speakers and a pair of Binoculars! I had taken for granted that we are on Private Property and about 1/4 mile from the Road, so I figured I didn't need actual Locks on the Door! Well that has now changed , unfortunately I cannot be as Trusting anymore!

It was probably Teenagers, but it could be disgruntled Hunters(Poachers) that are not supposed to be on the property as it is a Non-hunting /Conservation Property!

It is the 2nd act of Vandals in the last 2 years! Last fall , one of our Nets were cut and the Pole removed! Possibly related and perhaps more trouble is on the Horizon, but I am trying to remain Optimistc that nothing else will happen! I don't want to totally lose my Trust in the Human Race !

Till next Time!

Broadwings,Eagles and Great-horned Owl!

We are rolling along...........sort of!

This past week saw the weather change , with strong Northwest Winds and cold Temps,. This made for ideal Broadwing Days on Thursday and Friday. I was able to count on the Thursday but not Friday though I was not disappointed.

Thursday started slow, but quickly picked up steam. The first Broad-wings were seen alittle after 9 am. they started as singles then small kettles of 5-10 birds and escilated to Kettles of 100's! The largest one was in excess of 400 Broadwings. What a spectacular site!

Amid the Broad-wings were the occaisional Sharp-shinned and Red-tail and also Eagles.

Yes the Eagles came in larger numbers aswell ! A total of 9 were seen during the day, 8 were Bald Eagles of varying ages and a single Golden Eagle.

This was our single largest Count day for both Broadwings and Eagles with a total of 2089 Raptors observed.

On the banding side of the Operation , It is comparibly slower than last year! Nigel has now banded 8 Hawks at Scanlon Creek and I have banded 2 at Innisfree.Nigel managed to catch a Broad-winged Hawk on Thursday amid the Chaos of Kettles!

My second was a Hatchyear male Coopers Hawk that was caught in our Swedish Goshawk Trap yesterday. It was the second bird caught in the Trap this season, the first was a Second Year Great-horned Owl caught on Friday! Nigel was the lucky person to Band it! It is our 1st GHOW that we have caught at the Station and smelled greatly of Skunk! This is there favourite meal and they are not bothered by the Spray!

Yesterday afternoon my Son Liam and I got the Owl nets setup. We are still atleast a week away from Banding NSWO, but we are atleast ready for when the time comes! Unfortunately we lost the Hydro to the Barn as is was deemed Unsafe and also to costly for the Insurance! I will try my Generator and see how cost effective and LOUD it will be !

Up and walking!

Well we are set-up for Raptors, but it has been slowwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I have only caught a single HY Red-tail so far. At this point last season I was already at 10 birds. The weather does seem to be changing and this should start the push! Broad-winged Hawks have begun to Kettle and head south, but I suspect the Big Day will be either Friday or Satuday. Today an Adult Bald Eagle circled lazily !

At Scanlon Creek, Nigel is also setup and has caught 3 Raptors to date. 1 Adult Red-tail, 1 HY Coopers(F) and 1 HY Sharp-shinned(M).

We will be hopefully setup for the Saw-whet Owl Migration by next weekend!

Cheer's

Wow , I am a Slacker!

I know ,it's been a long time since I Blogged anything!

Spring Banding at Innisfree was ...........................non-existent! The Nets were set up, but only one Night was put in and no Days due to poor weather or Work! That dreaded 4 -letter word seems to get in the way alot!

The Only Banding done was by Nigel under contract with the Lake Simcoe Regional Conservation Authority. Nigel banded 1 Owl and only a few Hawks ! There seemed to be no Flight due to the North Winds and Snow/Rain that came far to often . In April Nigel turned his attention to "Dickie " Birds . He got off to a good start with many new Species for the LSRCA. He banded his 2nd ever Pileated Woodpecker in over 25 years of Banding!

At the end of June I banded 5 Young Kestrels at the Innisfree Station ! They were a couple weeks from Fledging.

The next day Nigel and I banded the Osprey Chicks , of which there were 3 !

This is the 3 rd year out of 4 that we have Banded them that they had 3 Chicks. The other year produced only 1! An interesting note to the Osprey was the fact that we thought they had Fledged that day due to 4 Osprey flying in the vicinity of the Nest. After I climbed up an saw the Chicks(2-3 weeks before they would Fledge) we concluded that there was another Nest in the Vicinty, but all Adults came in quite close and were Vocal.

While on the Platform a 5th Adult Osprey came over for a look!

We then decided to check our other Kestrel Boxes . The 1st and 3rd had been used, but Fledged, the 2nd and 4th had been used by Starlings and the 5th surprisingly had 4 Chicks atleast 2 weeks younger than the ones at the Banding Station! They were old enough to sex and Band !

And now we are waiting patiently for the Fall Banding Season!