The 2025 fall monitoring season for Northern Saw-whet Owls brought a mix of steady activity, many young birds, and a few memorable recaptures. Running from September 11th to October 28th, the season included 15 evenings of banding, split between the Lady Flower Gardens site (8 nights) and the Elk Island Cabin (7 nights).

 

The season eased in with higher-than-average early captures, dipped during the middle weeks, and picked up again near the end. While this year didn’t deliver a classic “big night” of heavy movement, it also didn’t bring any zero-capture evenings. With unusually warm September and October temperatures, it’s still uncertain whether this pattern reflects a slow migration year or simply weather-driven timing shifts.

​

​​​​​​​​​​​​With the help of 84 volunteers and guests, we captured 50 Northern Saw-whet Owls and one Barred Owl. A strong majority of the newly banded individuals were hatch-year birds, suggesting the owls had a successful breeding season. Early October stood out in particular, with nearly all captures involving owls hatched this year.

 

This season also treated us with some notable recaptures! Encounters of previously banded birds offer valuable clues about how individual owls move—and this season delivered three interesting examples:

​

A Long Distance Return

​On September 26th, a female owl originally banded in 2022 near Osler, Saskatchewan was recaptured at Lady Flower Gardens. Now, at least five years old, she had traveled roughly 470 km northwest from her first banding location.

 

A Quick Overnight Hop

On October 12th, researchers encountered an owl that had been banded just one night earlier at the Elk Island Cabin. It travelled 22 km to Islet Lake in 24 hours, and even gained weight, showing it had successfully hunted along the way.

 

A Slow and Steady Traveler

On October 29th, the Beaverhill Bird Observatory recaptured a female that was initially banded on September 26th. She moved 60 km southeast over nearly a month, highlighting how some Saw-whets migrate at a much more leisurely pace.

 

These three encounters underscore how variable Saw-whet Owl migration can be. Some individuals travel quickly over long distances, while others move gradually with extended stops. Unlike owl populations in eastern and western North America—where coastlines, lakes, and mountain ranges help funnel migration—the prairie landscape may allow for broader, more flexible movement routes.

 

This season would not have been possible without the enthusiasm and support of the volunteers, guests, and partners who joined us. Your participation helps deepen our understanding of Saw-whet Owl migration and contributes to ongoing conservation research.

 

If you would like to look back at all of our weekly posts and photos from this year's event, head on over to our Instagram or Facebook @barcaalberta!