BCEC and the Northern Saw-Whet Owl banding station
The BCEC Bird Group continues to evolve. In the April 2025 HCN we wrote about our Nocturnal Owl Monitoring citizen science work, as well as our members training in bird banding with the Calgary Bird Banding Society (CBBS). That work, and a serendipitous meeting with Millie Coeling the Bander in Charge of the CBBS’s Northern Saw-whet Owl banding station, has led us on a wonderful adventure of learning, and a significant opportunity to contribute.
A New Home for Owl Banding
Millie reached out to us this Spring with a proposal; the Northern Saw-whet Owl (NSWO) banding station needed a new home, was there any chance BCEC could provide an appropriate ongoing site for the project? Fast forward six months… and welcome to the new NSWO banding station located on the private property of a BCEC member in West Bragg Creek. We couldn’t be more thrilled – it’s a match made in bird heaven!
Project Owlnet
Since 2004, the CBBS has been monitoring migrating NSWOs (Aegolius acadicus). The CBBS’s work is part of Project Owlnet, a collaborative, continent-wide research effort to study the migration of NSWO using mist nets and banding. The project was founded in 1994 to standardize and coordinate banding methods across North America.
Monitoring begins in mid-September and continues through the end of October. A continuous audiolure – a recording of NSWOs – is played to enhance capture rate. The lure is placed amongst an array of mesh mist-nets. The audiolure commences approximately 0.5 hrs after sunset and continues for 4 hrs, weather and other factors permitting. Nets are checked at regular intervals by a Bander-in-Charge (BIC) and a team of banding assistant volunteers. Sex, age and morphometric data are collected on all owls captured. Basic weather data (wind direction and speed, sky conditions and temperature) are noted at start and finish each evening.
People get up close to owls
In addition to four BCEC members participating in their roles as banding assistants, the CBBS was able to offer a guest experience to our general membership. Nine BCEC members had the opportunity to observe and help for an evening of NSWO banding. It’s safe to say that the thrill of holding one of these gorgeous creatures in our hands (to release them) was a thrill that will remain a vivid memory.
The data collected from NSWO banding helps scientists:
*Monitor the migratory movements of the owls, revealing migratory pathways and timing.
*Collect population demographics including age and sex to help with estimates and trends
*Understand breeding and overwintering patterns
The data gathered also informs conservation strategies for Northern Saw-whet Owls and their habitats.
All bird banding in North America is jointly administered by Canada’s Bird Banding Office and the United States’ Bird Banding Laboratory. This program relies on the public to report observations or recoveries of bird bands. If you see a banded bird, you can report it online or call toll-free 1-800-327-BAND (2263)
BCEC is always looking for new members to help us with our projects. There are many ways to participate. We’d love to hear from you. Contact us at: braggcreekenvcoaliton@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/braggcreekenvcoalition
