The Northern Saw-whet Owl Migration Monitoring Program

Background

Northern Saw-whet Owls were originally considered rare in the Prince Edward Point area. However during the years 1975-1988 the Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) ran a program at the "Point" and captured a total of 4,875 saw-whets. From 83 to 779 owls were trapped in any one year and the KFN used up to 42 mist nets from late September to early November. The KFN did not use audio lures during those years but only ran their nets as "passive nets".

Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory first started to use audio lures in 2000, when the standard mist nets and two tape lures were operated in the net lanes for a one week trial period in late October to see how many owls were around. 137 Northern Saw-whet Owls and a Barred Owl were banded during that week. With the Trillium Foundation Grant in 2001 providing money to hire a full time bander, a full Northern Saw-whet Owl Migration Monitoring program was put into action. Nine 2-3/8 inch owl nets were erected in an area of the Cedar Woods just to the east of the main passerine netting area. In the fall of 2001, 345 Northern Saw-whet Owls, 4 Long-eared Owls, 2 Barred Owls and 3 Eastern Screech Owls were banded and a decision was made to keep the program running in future years.

Long-eared Owl - Occasionally Caught in the Fall

along with Barred Owls and Eastern Screech Owls