Winter Season

So far this winter has been short of spectacular! Although we are nearing the end of February, we really haven't experienced much winter . We have done Nil,Nada, Zilch Zip for Snow Buntings. They just haven't been around very much and definately not in Reliable Flocks. Horned Larks are already quite prevelent in the Fields and along the Roads of our Winter Study Areas. These are true Harbingers of Spring(not Robins)! We can only play the Cards we are dealt, and the Dealing has not been Great!

 
Second Year Northern Shrike


That being said, we have managed to catch 6 Snowy Owls(caught another today), about 6 Red-tails, 3 Kestrels, 3 Shrikes, 1 Coopers Hawk and 2 extremely unexpected Birds.

The first was a SY Red-shouldered Hawk . This is odd as they don't normally overwinter here in Simcoe County, especially as a Juvie.






Second Year Red-shouldered Hawk

The second was a SY Bald Eagle! Wow.........................didn't see that one coming!
Nigel caught the Eagle on a Bal-Chatri with a Hamster for Bait! He initially thought it was a Red-tail because the light was behind it, Boy was he surprised when this thing came Barrelling for the Hamster!In 30+ years of Banding this was Nigels first Eagle Species(Congrats)!

This also marked the first of both species for the Simcoe County Banding Group as a whole!



After Second Year Male Snowy Owl












Another ASY Snowy





After Second Year Male American Kestrel



My first Snowy Owl! An ASY Male









So I guess it hasn't been a total Bust! Actually it is a better season Raptor wise than last Winter, so lets hope that is a sign of things to come!


 Nigel has left for a Banding Expedition in South Africa! He will be banding Raptors along the Kahlahari Trail(Lucky Bastard) ! He was selected by the AFC(Artist for Conservation) to recieve a Grant for this Trip. He will be doing Field Sketches and keeping notes ,aswell as taking alot of Photos. This is for when he returns he will have to do a series of Paintings and Tour with them , talking about How the importance of Bird Migration and Conservation is ! Congratulations on such an Honour Nigel!

What Winter!

Well so far this seems to be the Winter that isn't! Some like it and others don't!

I don't!

 We were hoping for a cold winter with average snows, to help bringalong our Winter Targets of Snowy Owls,Rough-legged HAwks and Snow Buntings. So far there have been few if  any of these Species. The last week has brought more winter like weather, but we haven't ssen the Birds. We are still seeing lots of  Summer Birds, such as Starlings,Robins and Flickers.
 Such is life, when you set your Expectations High, you are often let down! We will still get a few of our Target Birds, that I am quite confident about, but "When?" is the question!
 Our friend Mike Blom in Alberta, has had an Excellent year for Snowy Owls with atleast 18 Banded, plus some Hawk Owls.
 Apparently from the Central Great Lakes and West, There is a huge push of Snowy Owls! These are mostly younger Birds. They had great Nesting Seasons with lots of Food, so they produced lots of Young. Now they are driven out by, "not lack of Food, but increased Competition with the many Snowy Owls" mostly Females that are larger than the Males.

 All we can do is wait and see, and try to be prepared for when our moment arises!

Happy New Years, and heres to a productive 2012!

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 !