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!