Fall Migration Monitoring 2026
For the past five years, the Boreal Avian Research & Conservation Association (BARCA) has been studying Northern Saw-whet owl migration at the Lady Flower Gardens forest (just outside of Edmonton, AB) to gain more valuable insight into the ecology and movement of these spectacular birds. Each event night, we operate 2-3 mist nets which are used to capture the owls, along with the use of an audio lure. The nets are checked every 30 - 45 minutes. When an owl is captured, the Bander in Charge (BIC) brings it back to our station for data collection and banding. Banding is an important tool used to monitor migration routes and patterns, as well as any changes in populations of Northern saw-whet owls. Once banding is completed, the owl is promptly released back into the wild. Keep an eye on us for migration updates as it unfolds throughout September and October!
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Night 13
October 26th
With the arrival of the first snowfall, we have officially reached the end of our owl migration monitoring project for this fall. On the last banding night, we eagerly waited as the owls screeched away in the forest, yet the nets remained empty.
In the end, it was an excellent season and we are already looking forward to fall banding next year! Our final count of Northern saw-whet owls captured and banded in the magical New Jubilee Forest at Lady Flower Gardens this year is 48. A huge thank you is in order for all of the volunteers and visitors who joined us in the woods. We appreciate each of you so much and it was wonderful seeing you all. Each banding night is made memorable because of you!
Night 12
October 22nd
Due to the unsettled weather, we unfortunately had to cancel two of our last four banding evenings. Temperatures dipped below freezing, but the brilliant, bright moonlight provided a glorious glow in the forest to keep us going. We had the pleasure of hosting the UACTWS student group, and to our delight, we captured two saw-whet owls!
Night 11
October 13th
Then came Tuesday night, and what a lovely night it was! We had the pleasure of reconnecting with friends who have supported our work over the years and made visiting our banding station a yearly tradition. Their company made the evening special, but the owls had an even bigger surprise in store for us! By the end of the session, we had captured and banded 12 Northern Saw-whet owls, smashing our previous single-night record of 11!
The New Jubilee Forest at Lady Flower Gardens never ceases to amaze us. It’s more than just a place to study and band migrating owls, it’s a special gathering place where nature lovers reconnect, share stories, and create memories that last long after the nets come down. With just four banding nights remaining, the excitement is far from over.
Night 10
October 12th
The blustery Thanksgiving weekend forced us to keep our nets closed and put our owl banding operations on hold. But, as the beautiful weather returned, so did our feathered friends! On Monday night, we were welcomed back by familiar voices from our resident Great Horned owls and plenty of waterfowl activity overhead. With temperatures dipping ever so close to freezing, three Northern Saw-whet owls found their way into our nets. A chilly but rewarding night in the woods!
Night 9
September 29th
We​​ welcomed a group of returning visitors who have brought us some serious owl luck in previous years. They certainly didn’t disappoint! It turned into an incredible night, with 11 Northern Saw-whet owls captured and banded!!! Interestingly, most were second-year birds, giving us a great opportunity to compare molt stages between individuals and learn more about these fascinating little migrants. Fall migration monitoring continues throughout October. Hopefully the favourable weather continues and many more owls find their way into our nets!
Night 8
September 28th
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The brilliant, starry skies and bright moonlight filtering through the trees created an unforgettable atmosphere, along with the magical sounds of migrating Tundra swans, Canada geese, and Snow geese flying low over the canopy and calling overhead. We also listened into the conversation of two Great Horned owls hooting back and forth, adding the perfect soundtrack to an already beautiful night! We captured four Northern Saw-whet owls. Three were young birds from this year, while the fourth was a second-year female.
Night 7
September 25th
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Then came our latest night—stormy, unsettled, and much quieter. We captured just one bird, and it happened to be one who had already been banded by us the night before! Interestingly, when we recaptured it 24 hours later, it had gained weight. That small change tells a much bigger story. These mature forests, even so close to a large urban area, can provide critically important stopover habitat where migrating owls can rest, refuel, and continue their journey. Sometimes, just one returning bird tells us more than we could have expected!
Night 6
September 24th
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Our next ACTWS group had much better luck than the last. This time, the nets were busy right from the start, and we ended the night having banded six owls! We also had a fascinating opportunity to compare the different molt stages of second-year birds under UV light, giving us another glimpse into the stories written in their feathers.
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Night 5
September 15th
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We welcomed a student group from the Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society (ACTWS) to the banding station, but the owls had other plans - not a single bird showed up! But, despite the empty nets, it turned into a beautiful evening filled with laughter, great conversations, and plenty of stories.
Night 4
September 14th
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We caught another three owls, again! The evening was on the cooler side and got down to around 3°C to 4°C, but this isn't a bad thing for us, since saw-whet owls tend to increase their movements significantly when temperatures drop. Our total of captured owls for the season so far is now ten, which is right on par with last year's results at this time.
Night 3
September 11th
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On Friday night, even though the weather forecast said there was only a 30% chance of rain, we started the evening with a sprinkle. Then, the wind picked up once again, so we weren’t sure how long we could keep going … But, to our surprise, the weather cleared up, and we managed to finish the full four hours of netting. We caught another three owls! Bringing our total to seven owls captured for the season so far.
Night 2
September 10th
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The wind was so strong that we were worried we would have to keep the nets shut, but luckily the trees managed to keep us all sheltered and it turned out to still be a great night! We heard hundreds of Canada and Greater white-fronted geese flying overhead, as well as a Great Horned owl, which we often hear hooting away in the magical woods at LFG. We managed to capture three Saw-whet owls, one of which had been previously banded at our LFG banding site, almost exactly a year earlier on September 12th, 2025, as a hatch-year bird. This year, we were so happy to see the gorgeous moult pattern on her wings, showing that she is indeed a second-year bird this year!
Night 1
September 1st
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Woohoo, Fall Migration Monitoring 2026 is officially underway! Sadly, we had to cancel public participation and volunteers because our master bander got sick, but we still managed running the nets and watching them for four hours. It was a gentle September evening, with many Canada geese flying overhead and the hooting and screeching sounds of Great Horned and Saw-whet owls filling the forest. We managed to catch one female Saw-whet owl, who now has a band and is continuing her migration! If we’re lucky, someone else will re-trap her, which would give us more information about migration routes and the lives of these elusive little owls.
