[va-bird] Lynchburg Saw-whet banding

This past Tuesday we started our fifth year of banding Northern Saw-whet
Owls on the inner Piedmont of Virginia in Campbell County just outside
of Lynchburg.  We run from the end of October to early December,
operating five nets in a linear arrangement, open from dusk until 11 PM,
with an audio lure playing to attract migrants into the nets.  This year
I again have several students helping on the project, as well as a bird
club member or two.  In the last four years of operation we have banded
39, 38, 52, and 7 saw-whets respectively.

Reports to the north of us have been indicating a very slow start to the
season and low numbers, compared with a very good season taking place in
the Great Lakes area.  Despite this we netted a saw-whet Thursday night
on our third night of operation.  And as an extra bonus the bird had
previously been banded by some other bander.  We have not found out yet
where and when it was banded.  After this rain clears out we will be
back in operation.

Gene Sattler 

Lynchburg

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