Nocturnal Owl Monitoring Project
Northern Saw-whet Owls (NSWO) at RPBO
The Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) is a small, migratory raptor which has been monitored extensively in Eastern North America since the 1950s. However, little is known about the Western population of these owls.
In 2002, RPBO partnered with Project Owlnet and began monitoring during Fall migration at Rocky Point. In 2014, a second site was opened at the Pedder Bay Marina providing, in addition to monitoring, a training site for volunteers and an educational opportunity for the community.
RPBO has now banded and collected data on a total of more than 16,000 Northern Saw-whet Owls, across both our Rocky Point and Pedder Bay banding stations since our banding program began in 2002.
This gives us incredible insight into population cycles and the health of individuals and allowing us to collaborate with a continental network of researchers through data sharing. Though we have learned that Southern Vancouver Island is an important migratory route for Saw-whets, we know very little about their wintering and breeding locations. We are exploring new technologies and partnerships that will allow us to learn more to protect their important habitats.
In 2019, early on the morning of Tuesday, October 1, we banded our 10,000th Northern Saw-whet Owl. While not the cutest owl we've ever processed, it is still very special to us.
Annual "Favourite Owl" Contest
After our Nocturnal Owl Monitoring program wraps up for the year, the banders look back on an incredible season and all the Northern Saw-whet Owls (NSWO) that made it so special.
In November, the team narrows the field down to 10 of the most memorable owls captured or banded that season. Supporters pick their favourite owl and are encouraged to pass the voting link along to friends and family. We include the band number and details of each bird, as well as a nickname and "personal bio". Anyone who came out to the station to see the Owls in person this year is invited to drop the team a note and share their story!
Visiting Our Owl Banding Operation
If you would like to visit the owls at our Pedder Bay site, please check out our owl visitor page to find out more and to get free tickets.
Banders Code of Ethics
Safety is our highest priority - for our personnel and of course, the birds. All of our Banders, station staff and volunteers strictly adhere to our Banders Code of Ethics. Please click here to download a copy.
Final Season-end Reports
Reports from our nocturnal Northern Saw-whet Owl migration monitoring operations are available for all years as PDFs.
Long-eared Owl (LEOW) Nesting Study
Following the incidental capture of three Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) (LEOW) in the fall of 2020 at the Rocky Point field station during the NSWO Monitoring project, the question arose as to whether or not a breeding population might have established itself at Rocky Point. A two-phase trial was conducted from 1 February 2021 through 15 May 2021.
Read the Pilot Study Summary 2020
Read the full Breeding Status Survey Report
Nocturnal Owl Nestbox Monitoring Project
The following report reflects the results of our efforts in 2012 monitoring Northern Saw-wet Owl nestboxes on the Boardman Tree Farm in Boardman, Oregon. Read the full Report.