Northern Saw-whet Owl (NSWO) Banding Valley Falls State Park
|
|
|
|
In 2005 Brooks Bird Club member Joey Herron began banding Saw-whet Owls at Valley Falls State Park in Marion County WV. Banding is conducted during the fall migration (October and November) as the owls migrate south.
2018 Saw-whet Banding Station Data: Valley Falls State Park WV
The fourteenth year of banding Northern Saw-whet Owls (NSWO) at Valley Falls State Park produced a total of 27 owls, which was just three captures under the ten-year average.
Banding began on 10/18/2018 and ended on 12/09/2018. The station operated on twelve nights with the nets being opened for fifty hours. Ten of the twelve nights yielded owls with a peak capture of 6 NSWO’s captured on the night of November 14th. Six of the ten nights yielded multiple owls, with October 25 and November 3rd producing four each. A lone foreign re-trap was caught this year on the night of November 3 which was banded 2 years ago in Pennsylvania.
The station had 75 visitors from four states. Fortunately, on each night with visitors, owls were captured, with multiple owls captured on two of those nights. What a thrill it was for all the visitors to experience such tiny owl in this way.
Of the 27 captures, 15 were adults, 12 were hatch year birds. Females again lead the way in captures in 2018 with 20, with 1 male and 5 unknowns.
After fourteen years of banding a total of 394 NSWOs have been captured, including 31 foreign recaptures and one return. The breakdown shows a heavy advantage for females, 75% to 8% for males. The unknown category completes the last 17%. The adult, hatch year ratio is almost even with 52% adult to 48% hatch year individuals. The station has hosted over fourteen hundred visitors from twelve states and the District of Columbia.
Again, I would like to thank Valley Falls State Park superintendent, Brett Harshberger for the use of the park facilities and allowing visitors to experience the fall migration. Without Brett’s support, this operation would not be possible.
Banding began on 10/18/2018 and ended on 12/09/2018. The station operated on twelve nights with the nets being opened for fifty hours. Ten of the twelve nights yielded owls with a peak capture of 6 NSWO’s captured on the night of November 14th. Six of the ten nights yielded multiple owls, with October 25 and November 3rd producing four each. A lone foreign re-trap was caught this year on the night of November 3 which was banded 2 years ago in Pennsylvania.
The station had 75 visitors from four states. Fortunately, on each night with visitors, owls were captured, with multiple owls captured on two of those nights. What a thrill it was for all the visitors to experience such tiny owl in this way.
Of the 27 captures, 15 were adults, 12 were hatch year birds. Females again lead the way in captures in 2018 with 20, with 1 male and 5 unknowns.
After fourteen years of banding a total of 394 NSWOs have been captured, including 31 foreign recaptures and one return. The breakdown shows a heavy advantage for females, 75% to 8% for males. The unknown category completes the last 17%. The adult, hatch year ratio is almost even with 52% adult to 48% hatch year individuals. The station has hosted over fourteen hundred visitors from twelve states and the District of Columbia.
Again, I would like to thank Valley Falls State Park superintendent, Brett Harshberger for the use of the park facilities and allowing visitors to experience the fall migration. Without Brett’s support, this operation would not be possible.
14-year totals
|
Females
305 |
Males
28 |
Unknown
61 |
Hatch Year
195 |
After Hatch Year
123 |
Second Year
76 |
Banding Summary for 2018
|
Date
October 10/18/18 10/25/18 10/30/18 November 11/2/18 11/3/18 11/7/18 11/10/18 11/11/18 11/14/18 11/17/18 11/21/18 December 12/9/18 |
NSWO Caught
1 4 1 1 4 (1-foreign re-trap) 1 3 3 6 3 0 0 |
Age
After hatch year (AHY) Second year (SY) Hatch year (HY) Sex Female – 21 Male – 1 Unknown – 5 |
6 9 ~ 56% (adults) 12 ~ 44% 78% 4% 18% |
|
Total 27 NSWO Banded 2018
|
|
|
|
2017 Saw-whet Banding Station Data: Valley Falls State Park WV
The thirteenth year of banding Northern Saw-whet Owls (NSWO) at Valley Falls State Park yielded the third lowest total since banding began in 2005 with only 8 owls captured.
Banding began on 10/14/2017 and ended on 11/022/2017. The eight owls captured in 2017 were 68% below the 10year average. This is the first year a bird previously banded by another station (foreign recapture) was not caught. The station operated on fourteen nights with the nets being opened for forty-eight and three-quarter hours. Four of the nights yielded owls with peak captures of 3 NSWO’s captured on the night of November 8th and 10th. All 8 were captured between November 4th and 11th.
The station had 80 visitors from eight states. Fortunately, on three of the nights with visitors, owls were captured, with a single owl captured one night after everyone had left. Of the 8 captures, 2 were adults, 6 were hatch year birds. Females again lead the way in captures in 2017 with 5, with 1 male and 2 unknowns.
After thirteen years of banding a total of 367 NSWOs have been captured, including 30 foreign recaptures and one return. The breakdown shows a heavy advantage for females, 75% to 8% for males. The unknown category completes the last 17%. The adult, hatch year ratio is almost even with 52% adult to 48% hatch year individuals. The station has hosted over fourteen hundred visitors from twelve states and the District of Columbia.
Again, I would like to thank Valley Falls State Park superintendent, Brett Harshbarger for the use of the park facilities and allowing visitors to experience the fall migration. Without Brett’s support, this operation would not be possible.
Banding began on 10/14/2017 and ended on 11/022/2017. The eight owls captured in 2017 were 68% below the 10year average. This is the first year a bird previously banded by another station (foreign recapture) was not caught. The station operated on fourteen nights with the nets being opened for forty-eight and three-quarter hours. Four of the nights yielded owls with peak captures of 3 NSWO’s captured on the night of November 8th and 10th. All 8 were captured between November 4th and 11th.
The station had 80 visitors from eight states. Fortunately, on three of the nights with visitors, owls were captured, with a single owl captured one night after everyone had left. Of the 8 captures, 2 were adults, 6 were hatch year birds. Females again lead the way in captures in 2017 with 5, with 1 male and 2 unknowns.
After thirteen years of banding a total of 367 NSWOs have been captured, including 30 foreign recaptures and one return. The breakdown shows a heavy advantage for females, 75% to 8% for males. The unknown category completes the last 17%. The adult, hatch year ratio is almost even with 52% adult to 48% hatch year individuals. The station has hosted over fourteen hundred visitors from twelve states and the District of Columbia.
Again, I would like to thank Valley Falls State Park superintendent, Brett Harshbarger for the use of the park facilities and allowing visitors to experience the fall migration. Without Brett’s support, this operation would not be possible.
13-year Totals
|
Females
284 |
Males
27 |
Unknown
56 |
Hatch Year
183 |
After Hatch Year
117 |
Second Year
67 |
Banding Summary for 2017
|
Date NSWO Caught
10/20/17 0 10/26/17 0 10/31/17 0 11/3/17 0 11/4/17 1 11/8/17 3 11/9/17 0 11/10/17 3 11/11/17 1 11/17/17 0 11/20/17 0 11/22/17 0 |
Age
After hatch year (AHY)--2 Second year (SY)----------0 25% (adults) Hatch year (HY)-----------6 75% Sex Female: 5------62.5% Male: 1-----12.5% Unknown: 2----25% |
|
Total 8 NSWO Banded 2017
|
2016 Saw-whet Banding Station Data: Valley Falls State Park WV
The twelve year of banding Northern Saw-whet Owls (NSWO) at Valley Falls State Park yielded 53 owls, the highest year for captures since this project began in 2005, replacing the 2007 total of 49.
Banding began on 10/15/2016 and ended on 12/05/2016. The fifty-three owls captured in 2016 was 86% above the 10-year average, including two foreign recaptures and a single red phased Eastern Screech Owl.
The station operated on sixteen nights with the nets being opened for sixty-two hours. Ten of the nights yielded owls with a peak capture of twenty-six NSWO’s captured on the night of November 6th, a one night record eclipsing the previous one night record of 17 in 2007.
The station had 120 visitors from six states, including students from the WVU Wildlife Society and various groups and organizations from all over the state. Fortunately, on three of the nights with visitors, owls were captured, with a single owl captured one night after everyone had left. A special thanks to Meghan Jensen, a graduate assistant at West Virginia University, who coordinated and ran an experimental project at Cooper’s Rock State Forest for the third year. The station there only captured a couple owls on a few nights of operation, giving some WVU wildlife students some experience with this tiny eastern owl.
Of the 53 captures, 23 were adults, 30 were hatch year birds. Females again lead the way in captures in 2016 with 46, with 3 males and 4 unknowns. An owl caught on November 6th was an owl that was banded as a second-year bird in 2013 in Pennsylvania.
After twelve years of banding a total of 359 NSWOs have been captured, including 30 foreign recaptures and one return. The breakdown shows a heavy advantage for females, 75% to 8% for males. The unknown category completes the last 17%. The adult, hatch year ratio is almost even with 52% adult to 48% hatch year individuals. The station has hosted over thirteen hundred visitors from ten states and the District of Columbia.
Again, I would like to thank Valley Falls State Park superintendent, Brett Harshbarger for the use of the park facilities and allowing visitors to experience the fall migration. Without Brett’s support, this operation would not be possible.
Banding began on 10/15/2016 and ended on 12/05/2016. The fifty-three owls captured in 2016 was 86% above the 10-year average, including two foreign recaptures and a single red phased Eastern Screech Owl.
The station operated on sixteen nights with the nets being opened for sixty-two hours. Ten of the nights yielded owls with a peak capture of twenty-six NSWO’s captured on the night of November 6th, a one night record eclipsing the previous one night record of 17 in 2007.
The station had 120 visitors from six states, including students from the WVU Wildlife Society and various groups and organizations from all over the state. Fortunately, on three of the nights with visitors, owls were captured, with a single owl captured one night after everyone had left. A special thanks to Meghan Jensen, a graduate assistant at West Virginia University, who coordinated and ran an experimental project at Cooper’s Rock State Forest for the third year. The station there only captured a couple owls on a few nights of operation, giving some WVU wildlife students some experience with this tiny eastern owl.
Of the 53 captures, 23 were adults, 30 were hatch year birds. Females again lead the way in captures in 2016 with 46, with 3 males and 4 unknowns. An owl caught on November 6th was an owl that was banded as a second-year bird in 2013 in Pennsylvania.
After twelve years of banding a total of 359 NSWOs have been captured, including 30 foreign recaptures and one return. The breakdown shows a heavy advantage for females, 75% to 8% for males. The unknown category completes the last 17%. The adult, hatch year ratio is almost even with 52% adult to 48% hatch year individuals. The station has hosted over thirteen hundred visitors from ten states and the District of Columbia.
Again, I would like to thank Valley Falls State Park superintendent, Brett Harshbarger for the use of the park facilities and allowing visitors to experience the fall migration. Without Brett’s support, this operation would not be possible.
12 Year Totals
|
Females
279 |
Males
26 |
Unknown
54 |
Hatch Year
177 |
After Hatch Year
115 |
Second Year
67 |
Banding Summary for 2016
|
Date NSWO 10/15/16 0 10/22/16 2 10/23/16 1 10/24/16 6 10/28/16 1 10/29/16 1 11/4/16 6 (1 foreign) (1 Eastern Screech Owl) 11/5/16 5 11/6/16 26 (1 foreign) RECORD NIGHT 11/7/16 4 11/11/16 0 11/17/16 1 11/18/16 0 11/21/16 0 11/22/16 0 12/5/2016 0 |
Age
After hatch year (AHY)…..10 Second year (SY)………………13 43% (adults) Hatch year (HY)………………..30 57% Sex Female – 46……. 88% Male – 3………….5% Unknown – 4……7% |
|
Total 53 NSWO Banded 2016
|
2016 NSWO Data (PDF)
All NSWO data/photos submitted by Joey Herron |
|
|