News & Views

The Elementals

Northern Saw-whet Owl, photo by Rick BuntingOn November 4th my 4-H group, The Elementals, was treated to an incredible and unique experience: a chance to band Northern Saw-whet Owls with Sullivan County Audubon Society President, Dr. Valerie Freer.

When we arrived, we were delighted to find Dr. Freer already had two tiny owls waiting for us. She let us pet them for a while (which they rather enjoyed), and she weighed, measured and banded the owls, explaining each task, from beak to tail, in detail. She then lifted up a feathery flap just behind the owl’s facial disk, to reveal a gaping hole the size of a dollar coin - the owl’s super sensitive ear. If we talked too loudly, or got a bit too close, the bird would give a quick, loud snap of its beak as a “back off!” sign.

We released the owls then, placing them on a branch to let them adjust to the darkness, and headed out again to check the mist nets. Mist nets are super-fine silken nets, and they are almost invisible, with several long pockets to catch the owls. A recording of male Saw-whet calls is used to attract the owls to the nets.

On our second trip, two surprised yellow eyes peered at us from the folds of net #2. We slipped the little guy into the carrier and brought it inside. As it turned out the “little guy” really was a guy, quite rare since only two or three out of every hundred owls caught are male. Dr. Freer let me hold this one. At a mere 79 grams, he was light, almost insubstantial, and felt like a feathered hand warmer. I could feel its heart beat and lungs take in air. He spun his head, fixing each of us with a piercing golden gaze that was rather endearing. His eye lids drooped when we stroked his head.

On our next trip out, we heard the deep, throaty “Who cooks for yooooo?” of a Barred Owl. A half hour later, with our own eyelids beginning to droop, we caught our fourth and final owl. The clock struck ten, we thanked Dr. Freer, and piled into our cars, sleepy and full of thoughts of owls.

— Truth Muller
   Warblings, Fall 2015

Ed. Note:  This article first appeared in the December 2014 issue of Clover Leaves, the Orange County 4-H Club Newsletter.


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