Jug  Bay  Wetlands  Sanctuary 

Northern Saw-whet Owl Banding

Objectives of the Study

• Support expansion of a network of owl migration banding stations
• Advocate the use of relatively comparable netting protocols
• Improve communication and coordination among owl banding stations in North America

Saw-whet Owl banding began in earnest in the 1960s. In the 1990s Dave F. Brinker, of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, began to coordinate a more intensive effort in the Mid-Atlantic region: Project Owlnet. The project was originally designed to improve our knowledge of the timing and pattern of Saw-whet Owl migration. In addition, it has added significantly to our abililty to accurately determine the sex of captured owls. Project Owlnet is now continent wide in scope, with cooperating stations in western Canada, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southwest. The Jug Bay Banding Station began participation in the project in 1995.

The Jug Bay area is not located on a major migration route for saw-whets, therefore, our capture numbers are much lower than other stations in Maryland. Our numbers are consistently proportionate, however. During the seven years in which we have operated, we have banded approximately 130 saw-whets. Two of these birds have been recaptured elsewhere: one in Pennsylvania the following spring and one on the Eastern Shore of Maryland the next fall. We also found the remains of one of our banded owls the following summer within the Sanctuary. That is actually a high recovery rate compared to songbirds.

Research Activity: We begin banding Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) as part of Project Owlnet, starting in mid-October and continuing through mid-November. 

Schedule: We work from from sunset until 10 p.m. on selected days. On occasion, we will operate later or, rarely, all night. The site is near the River Farm, and we use the Intern House to process any birds captured.

To sign up: Visitors are welcome, with the understanding that we capture few owls, so there is no assurance of success on any given night. Contact project coordinator Mike Quinlan for further information at 301-805-4278, or e-mail at mikemq@aol.com. For general information contact the Sanctuary or call (410) 741-9330

Click here: Project Owlnet (external web site for the information about Project Owlnet throughout the country)