MONITORING NORTHERN SAW-WHET AND BOREAL OWLS

The monitoring of Northern Saw-whet and Boreal Owls is a nocturnal activity. These two small owl species are caught using a system of loudspeakers (playing their calls) surrounded by mist nets in which the owls become entangled. Using this method the OOT obtains good information about the cyclical nature of invasions of these species and an indication of their reproductive success.

The OOT is exceptional in that it is one of the rare observatories situated along the migratory pathway of the Boreal Owl. This is a little-studied resident of the Boreal forest and its cyclic, often short-distance, invasions can only be monitored by observatories situated in the north.

In concert with the Parc national du Saguenay, the OOT organises an activity that initiates members of the public to the techniques and uses of bird banding, and to the biology of Northern Saw-whet and Boreal Owls. From mid-September up until the end of October, many people visit the OOT with the hope of seeing these species up-close. This is a rendez-vous under the stars and you can reserve your place at the park’s interpretation centre at the Maison des Dunes (418-235-4238).

In order to help support our long-term monitoring of the population dynamics of Northern Saw-whet and Boreal Owls, and so improve our understanding of these mysterious birds, the OOT offers you the possibility to adopt and owl (50$ per bird bird adopted).

As an adopter, your name will be associated with a particular banded owl. You will receive a report concerning the current year’s Northern Saw-whet and Boreal Owl banding operation, and furthermore, you will be informed of any future recapture of your bird by one of the network of banding stations across North America. Through your adoption, you are helping to ensure that we can continue to collect valuable information about these nocturnal birds, which are discreet and difficult to monitor.

The OOT is part of Explos-Nature, a non-profit making organization, which, for the last 50 years, has been focusing on education and research in the field of natural history. If you are interested in our adoption program, please make out a cheque payable to Explos-Nature and send it, along with your postal and email (if possible) address (to allow us to inform you of any recaptures of your bird), to the following address:

Parrainage de nyctales
Observatoire d'oiseaux de Tadoussac
Corporation Explos-Nature
302 rue de la Rivière
Les Bergeronnes, QC, G0T 1G0