Saw-whet Owls - Fall 2011 Banding Report

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In Muskegon County, there are several bird species for which banding records exceed published visual or aural confirmations. Examples include Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Lincoln's Sparrow. .

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However, the only non-passerine in this category is Saw-whet Owl. From 1961 to 1971, renowned ornithologist Larry Walkinshaw banded 12 at his home in Laketon Township. In 2005, seeking to better understand the local status of this species, I initiated a banding effort at Muskegon State Park. Although coverage each season has been greatly constrained by work obligations and my commitment to the songbird banding station at Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve, a few owls have been banded each year. The fall of 2011 proved no exception.

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Banding was conducted for 30.5 hours on six evenings from November 4 to December 20. The late start date meant that we not only opened the station after most other owl stations had already closed for the fall, but also that we almost certainly missed peak migratory movements. However, the goal this year was not to accrue sheer numbers. Instead, we were trying to see how late the fall migration extended and if there were any winter residency patterns. Moreover, we were trying to increase our sample of males (which migrate significantly later in the fall).

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Despite the late coverage, we still caught five birds on four evenings (including one on the final night). However, all were classified as definite or probable females. Three were immatures, and the others were more than two years old. Weights ranged from 84.7 to 105.0 grams (figures equivalent to American Robin and Common Grackle, respectively; but despite such comparisons, Saw-whet Owls have a high ratio of wing area to mass, so their wing loading is comparatively small - about 80% that of a robin by my calculations.)

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There were no recaptures this year, but we finally received word that a bird we captured on November 23, 2010 had been originally banded near Cobalt, Ontario, on October 3. That female migrated at least 430 miles on a southwest track over the span of 51 evenings. Conversely, the only owls that we have banded that have appeared elsewhere have been: one found dead two years later near Flint, and one recaptured six evenings later on the opposite shore of Lake Michigan.

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Below is a photo gallery of four birds from last fall. Many thanks to Kevin Klco and Carolyn Weng for their continued support.

Brian Johnson
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