Field Report from the 2023 Saw-whet Owl Banding Project

Saw-whet Science with the Harris Center

In the fall of 2023, the Harris Center launched its second season of Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) banding on SuperSanctuary lands, as part of an international research effort (projectowlnet.org) to better understand the fall migration of this charismatic bird of prey.

Why Band Northern Saw-Whet Owls?

Saw-whet owls are small, secretive, and nocturnal, which can make them difficult to study. In addition, although they are currently common, they may be vulnerable to climate change; unless additional climate action is taken, the National Audubon Society predicts a 72% loss in their summer range — including the entire Granite State — by 2080. Banding is one of the best tools we have for monitoring changes in saw-whet populations and migration patterns over time, and for identifying critical migration routes and overwintering habitat.

Methods

Banding took place at two different sites on Harris Center lands, which were selected for long-term monitoring during our 2022 pilot season based on land ownership, forest cover, slope, access, and distance from residential areas. At each site, researchers set up a temporary array of fine “mist nets” and played an audio loop of a saw-whet owl call to lure owls toward the nets. The nets were checked every 20 to 40 minutes, and owls were carefully removed by trained individuals. Each owl was then weighed, measured, examined to determine age and sex, and outfitted with a lightweight metal USGS band containing a unique number before being released back to the wild. The safety of the owls was our top priority.

All banding was conducted according to protocols established by Project Owlnet, under the leadership of experienced owl bander Hillary Siener. Hillary operated the station as a sub-permittee under Dr. Jonathan Atwood’s master banding permit from the USGS Bird Banding Lab, and in accordance with a scientific permit from NH Fish and Game.

Results

A map showing locations where saw-whet owls banded on Harris Center lands have subsequently been encountered, and where previously banded owls encountered at Harris Center sites were originally banded. Solid lines indicate same-season encounters, and dashed lines indicate birds that were first banded in 2022 and next encountered in 2023. Lines do not represent specific migratory pathways. Click on the image for a larger view.
(map © Mike Valentino)

In 2023, our team banded 100 saw-whet owls over the course of 22 nights from October 8 to November 14. Migration peaked the week of October 29 to November 4, with 28 captures occurring during the three nights the nets were open that week. Two “big nights” occurred, with 15 owls captured on October 31 and 16 owls on November 5. 93 of the 100 owls (93%) were female, 1 (1%) was male, and 6 (6%) were of undetermined sex. The majority of owls were in their second year of life or older; only 13% were hatch-year birds.

No owls banded at the Harris Center sites were re-encountered at other banding stations in 2023. However, four owls captured at our sites had been previously banded at other stations. Three of these owls were originally banded in 2022, and one was banded in Tadoussac, Quebec, Canada just 19 nights before being captured again in Nelson. On average, this bird traveled 19.7 miles/night between the two sites, covering a distance of approximately 375 miles in just under three weeks.

Education & Outreach

Saw-whet owls are truly captivating, and banding efforts – which offer the opportunity to see owls up-close – hold incredible potential for inspiring future conservationists. In 2023, the Harris Center offered six educational owl banding demonstrations for a variety of audiences. All attendees were able to observe the banding process, as at least one owl made an appearance for each program. We look forward to offering more opportunities to observe saw-whet science in action in the fall of 2024!

Adopt-an-Owl Program

This year, we also launched a new “Adopt-an-Owl” program, which allows individuals to support the Harris Center’s saw-whet banding project by symbolically adopting an owl. Each adoption comes with a certificate that includes the owl’s band number, age, sex, weight, and the date it was banded. The Harris Center will also notify the adopter if their owl is encountered again anywhere in North America. As of January 2024, 75 owls have been adopted by people in 18 states from Connecticut to California.

Acknowledgments

Staff and volunteers huddle together on the coldest night of the season to take a selfie with the 100th – and final – owl captured during the 2023 season. Medallion designed by Annamarie and Tricia Saenger.
(photo © Mike Valentino)

This project could not have spread its wings without the dedicated work of volunteers Jonathan Atwood, Julie Brown, Andy Chapman, Russ Cobb, Autumn Heil, Steven Lamonde, Kat Lauer, Cynthia Nichols, Michael Nork, Polly Pattison, Tricia Seanger, Cliff Seifer, Kim Snyder, Mike Valentino, Jane Wing, and Chad Witko. Harris Center staff members Phil Brown, Annamarie Saenger, Hillary Siener, Susie Spikol, and Brett Amy Thelen also spent numerous hours on planning, research, communications, permit applications, education, data entry and report writing, nightly operations, and more.

Together, staff and volunteers contributed more than 600 hours to the project in 2023. Thanks to all for the many hours of hard work behind the scenes and at the banding sites, and for all the memorable conversations – illuminated by headlamp and starlight – in the autumn woods.

This project was made possible with support from the Harris Center’s 50th Anniversary Fund.