Kristy's Saw Whet Owl Release: The Ultimate Owl-ween!

Part of the perks of being a wildlife ecology student at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, is the privilege of being a part of a very active chapter of The Wildlife Society.  I am able to participate in a variety of special events, research projects and workshops which enable me to develop skills as an educator, researcher and scientist.

Kristy Holding A Saw Whet Owl Extracted From A Mist Net

The month of October has brought one of the wonderful opportunity of banding Saw Whet owls as they migrate for the season.  A loud call is placed at the center of a triangular mist net arrangement in the middle of the forest (in this case located at Linwood Springs Research Station).  The birds that are lured into the net are quickly and gently removed, and a small numbered band is placed around their "ankle".  Information such as weight, the length of the wing, feather molt, fat, age and sex of the bird is recorded.  All of which allows researchers to learn more about the movement patterns of the birds, among other information when the band numbers are noted again either by recapture or death.

In the spirit of Halloween, I am posting a short video of a newly banded Saw Whet Owl being released, which occurred on a perfect October evening with the ideal timing of a coyote calling in the background. In moments like these, I feel most at home in nature.....even, in the dark!