The Center for Conservation Biology's 2005 Saw-whet Owl banding operation
concluded on 15 December 2005 with 75 owls captured. The Center began
monitoring migrant Northern Saw-whet Owls along the lower Delmarva Peninsula in
the fall of 1994. This study was the first to document large numbers of
migrant Northern Saw-whet Owls south of Maryland, and during the 12 years of
monitoring more than 2,700 owls have been banded and more than 100 foreign
retraps and returns recorded.
During the fall of 2005, bander in residence Ariel White captured 75 new
owls (73 unbanded and 2 foreign birds) during 47 nights of operation. This
total is the 3rd lowest observed in twelve years of monitoring. The 2005
capture rate (1.6 owls/night) was well below the 12 year average of 5.7
owls/night. While many banding stations to our north and farther inland
experienced heavy flights of owls, it appears that 2005 was not a banner year
for Northern Saw-whet Owl migration along the southern mid-Atlantic coast.
The owl migration project is conducted each year between the third week of
October and the middle of December. Among other objectives, the project seeks
to determine 1) the annual variation in the magnitude and timing of Saw-whet
Owl migration through the lower Delmarva Peninsula, 2) the spatial pattern of
habitat use near the tip of the Delmarva Peninsula, 3) the relative timing of
passage for different age classes of Saw-whet Owls, and 4) the rate of movement
of Saw-whet Owls down the Atlantic Flyway.
Thanks to project partners: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Virginia
Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Virginia Department of Game
and Inland Fisheries.
Barton J. Paxton
Center for Conservation Biology
College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, VA 23187
Phone (757) 221-1639
FAX (757) 221-1650
bjpaxt@xxxxxx
www.ccb-wm.org
