Saw-whet Returns!

Well ,the main reason that we Band Hawks and Owls is for the purpose of trying to figure out where they might go and how long they live for in the wild! They have found that some birds travel Great distances each Spring and Fall. They are even using Geolocating Devices and GPS Units on some Species to track them more closely.

They have found that the Larger Birds can live for a long time(ie Red-tailed Hawk 28 yrs) in the wild.

For me , this year has really been a good year for getting Info from Birds that I have either Captured and Banded previously, or Birds I have Banded and then retrapped years later.

On the 24th I was again the recepient of some worthy Info. I retrapped a Northern Saw-whet Owl that I had previously Banded. I caught this Owl on Oct 26 2006 about 500 meters from where it was originally Banded! When I initially caught and Banded this Owl it was a Hatch Year(born in the Current Year) and sexed as a Female. Well I now know that this Owl has survived 3 years out in the Wilds, but we do not exactly where it has been!

It is our first Owl that we have recaptured at our site in 5 years of Banding there, and are thrilled about this!

We have now caught 95 New Saw-whets(4 Foreign/ 1 Control), 28 New Hawks(1 Foreign/3 Control) and 3 New Long-eared Owls and 2 (Control) Eastern Screech Owls.

Fall Banding in Full Swing!........finally!

Well we are finally experiencing an influx of Banding this past week! Saw-whet Owls arrived in earnest on the 13th with 22 New Owls banded and 1 Foreign Retrap. This previously Banded Owl was caught and banded in Pennsylvania Nov 11/07. The 22 new Owls set the new station 1 day (night) record high.

We have now banded 88 Saw-whets for the season and caught 4 previously Banded Owls.

On the Hawk side of the Banding we are over the 20 Bird mark! We achived this quicker than last year, although we haven't had great weather or terrific Flight Days.

Of the Hawks caught was 1 ASY Red-tailed Hawk that was previously Banded at another Station in Ontario in 2007. We are waiting for more specific information on this Hawk. It was my first Foreign Retrap of a Hawk and the second for our Station.

We also had a Red-tailed Hawk caught and relocated from the Cleveland Airport. I banded it as a HY in September 2007. This is my first Retrap of one of my Hawks at another location.

We are continueing to plug along, but once again the weather is keeping us indoors!

Wild Rains and Winds are Holding us Back!

Well we have not managed alot of Banding Hours lately, especially for Owls due to Weather. Rain almost every night and Winds gusting up to 60 Km an hour.

We have only caught 3 NSWO's thus far , which is about 15-20 less than previous Seasons. 2 EASO's have been retrapped. 1 was originally banded in the Spring 09, and the other Nov 08 at our Innisfree Location.

We are at about 15 Hawks Banded this year, but the weather again is not helping. Cold Fronts continue to move through, but they are not bringing much but low Ceilings and Rain.

Of note on the Hawks we have recaught 3 Hawks previously Banded.

1) ASY COHA banded originally Sept. 26 2009 , was recaught Oct 01 2009 - 5 miles from the original Banding Site.

2) HY RTHA banded originally Sept 03 2009 , was recaught at the same location on Oct 5 2009.

3) ATY RTHA banded originally Dec 2005, was recaught Oct 6 2009 about 1/2 a mile from its orignal Banding Location.

Will possible try for Owls tonight if the wind dies down !