Northern Saw-Whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) Autumn Migration Magnitude and Demographics in South-Central Indiana

Abstract

Abstract Three banding stations were located in south-central Indiana (2002–07) to study migration patterns of Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus). Saw-whet owl captures ranged from 59 in 2002 (1 station) to 447 in 2007 (3 stations), with 2007 an irruption year in at least one location. The proportion of hatch-year owls was 54.8% on average, but lower in 2004 (30.9%). Hatch-year owls consistently arrived 4–5 d earlier than older saw-whet owls in south-central Indiana. We used morphometric sexing techniques to classify 80% of the saw-whet owls we captured as females, and 7% as males. Encounters of birds banded at other stations indicated that most owls captured in south-central Indiana in fall had migrated around the west side of the Great Lakes. The irruption of 2007 was likely due to a large influx of saw-whet owls moving through the Ohio River Valley from eastern regions. Greatest numbers of saw-whet owl captures were associated with clear nights and relatively calm west-to-northwest winds after ...