Breaking 50
Moon photo from 1999
The bright moon makes it hard to catch owls because they are able to see the mist-nets. Lucky we did have a few clouds when we first opened this evening but ended up where I could check nets without needing my headlamp. Yeck! To my surprise . . . . I still happen to capture 4 Northern Saw-whet Owls tonight and my 4th bird was my 50th capture for the season!! YEAH!! Did I mention the perfect northern winds that we had?? I was pleased to have a few leaves left on the trees that created some shadows but I would have been bombarded with birds if this had been a new moon! grrr. . . . I decided to closed everything up at 11pm because the moon was directly over my nets and plan to try to catch up with some sleep!! I also figured 50 owls for the season was a great way to end my night!
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Great job, Mon@rch! Congrats on the 50 saw-whets. I’ve enjoyed all your photos of those cuties.
25 October 2007 at 2:23 am
Banding owls must rate as one of the most amazing activities connected to birding.
I’ve never done it (so what do I know), but it must be truly great!!
Sigh…
25 October 2007 at 3:28 am
Wow, 50 owls! I’d say that’s a nice note to end on indeed!
25 October 2007 at 6:53 am
@ Mary C. – Thanks and you can be sure their are more pictures to come! I have another month of banding them! Moon will be gone by another week for sure!
@ jochen – it is fun but after your first 80, it can almost be like most other songbirds! But their are times that you look at them and say, awww
@ jayne – thanks and was good to get to bed!
25 October 2007 at 8:09 am
Fifty, that is just amazing. I have only ever even SEEN two or three. Great job!
25 October 2007 at 9:27 am
I had never even heard of the Saw-whet owls until I visited your website and started following your bird banding. They are the cutest things ever! I’ve always loved birds but wasn’t much good at identifying anything out of the normal common birds. Now I’m excited about it all and plan on many birding outings. Going through your park last weekend I commented to my husband that people should have to pay to work there. It is that terrific.
25 October 2007 at 9:32 am
Wow!! Congrats on FIFTY!
Hope you still have a few coming through if we ever make it there-we’re trying-really!
Love the moon shot! (even though it’s a very, very bad moon -for owl banding anyway ;D)
25 October 2007 at 12:10 pm
That’s great Tom, you do great work, plus I love to see all the wonderful images you get.
25 October 2007 at 12:18 pm
No, no!! I hope the State of New York won’t take Erie’s suggestion seriously. 😦
25 October 2007 at 5:06 pm
Congrats on number 50. Now get some much deserved rest.
25 October 2007 at 6:36 pm
Wow Tom! 50 owls is awesome! Congratulations!
25 October 2007 at 8:50 pm
50 owls, that is pretty amazing. The moon was really big and beautiful last night. ~nita~
25 October 2007 at 9:23 pm
I love the photos of the saw-whets. They sure are cute.
25 October 2007 at 9:34 pm
Some day, I’d like to visit a banding station.-50! that’s great.
25 October 2007 at 10:27 pm
@ 3collie – I have only seen them while banding, although, I have heard them manytimes wild!
@ Erie – They are cute for sure and a very common little owl! I know they find them over at PI State Park! Although, I wouldn’t be here if I had to pay to work here! Do note that this Owl banding is all done on my own personal time! Not work time so it does cost me to do!
@ Marg – thanks and 50 too many that you have not seen yet! Where are you??
@ Bernie – Thanks and thanks!
@ Grace – I should edit that so they have no ideas, right?
@ Lisa – thanks and lets hope for Nov I get another 50!
@ Pam – thanks
@ Nita – I was thinking the same thing!
@ KGMom – thanks and they sure are for sure!
@ Larry – why don’t you? There are stations scattered all across the united states!
25 October 2007 at 11:46 pm
Count me jealous – the number I’ve seen EVER: 0. 😦
Hopefully they’ll start showing up here soon – we’ve already had a crossbill in S. Jersey…
26 October 2007 at 12:38 pm
🙂 Marty – They are for sure in your area and one of our southern PA banders has caught over 300 birds this season (also runs 3 stations).
26 October 2007 at 1:14 pm
Beautiful shot!
26 October 2007 at 9:28 pm
Beautiful full moon shot!!
50 Owl’s..~~WOW!!!
Happy weekend!
Cat
26 October 2007 at 9:46 pm
50 owls……does that make you wise. I have a great book called ‘One Odd Old Owl’ by Paul S. Adshead. Its a puzzle book about an owl and a snail. Worth looking at ……a fun winter activity.
Is that the moon over Pfiffer Nature Center?
27 October 2007 at 10:02 am
@ aullori – thanks
@ Catherine – thanks and was great for sure!
@ Nancy – thanks and it was that bluemoon night! Glad you remember that fun evening!
27 October 2007 at 10:42 am
Sounds like this isn’t just fun-it’s work too!
1 November 2007 at 10:29 pm