I've been fortunate to work with many biologists, archaeologists, and other scientists in the field. I have volunteered to work on tracking, banding, and monitoring projects with many different types of birds...in this case the Long-eared Owl near Missoula MT.

Feb 14, 1994

Went out with Denver Holt to a local ranch to trap and band long-eared owls. The owls roost in the scrub (hawthorn here) that grows in gullies and ravines. Mist nets are stretched across strategic parts of the chosen ravine then volunteers walk up the ravine (toward the nets) and try to scare the owls out. The owls tend to fly low and hang in close to the trees as they themselves are also prey for larger birds. The volunteers clap and whistle to help scare the birds out of the brush, and the owls fly into the nets (we hope).

Caught 2 males and one female...4 others eluded us. The female is larger and darker than the males. The female was 315 g and the males were 243 g and 257 g. The males have light tan under their wings and the female has more brown/gold underwings...the female was unbanded, the males were banded. The males were 5th or 6th year breeders, the female much younger, perhaps 1.5 years old.