After a heavy movement of Northern Saw-whet Owls throughout the east last fall
(102 birds at our site in Campbell County near Lynchburg) we are doing some
spring banding to collect a little data on the return trip. We attempted this
one previous spring in 2008 after the heavy invasion year movement the previous
fall of 2007 (71 birds at our site that fall). That spring of 2008 we banded
12 birds, most of which came through during the second and third weeks of
March, although we had a few birds into early April. This spring so far we
have netted seven birds, two of which were overwintering birds that we had
banded this previous fall, and one a bird banded in Pennsylvania this past
October on its way south. We usually only keep nets open until 11 PM at our
site, although this week of spring break, with Daylight Savings Time in effect,
we are remaining open until midnight. We hope to net 15-20 owls this spring
season, and if we break that number it will be an especially successful season.
On Friday night from 6:50-6:53 PM as it was almost dark two skeins of 23 and
about 40 Canada Geese went over headed north, and with the lateness of the day
and the recent reports of Tundra Swans on the move may have been migratory
birds. Four Hooded Mergansers were on Camp Hydaway Lake in Campbell County
Friday and Saturday, and were also likely moving through. My single Fox
Sparrow that has been seen in the backyard since November is still around. And
the Lynchburg Bird Club made a trip to Lynchburg College's Claytor Lake Nature
Center in Bedford County last night after our previous woodcock site, Buffalo
Creek Nature Area was purchased by a private individual and became
unavailable. We estimated 10-12 displaying woodcocks in the area, along with
several hundred Spring Peepers and a smattering of Upland Chorus Frogs. Thanks
to Susan Stanton for leading this trip. Common Grackles started moving back
into town the second week of February, and a few individuals have reported a
local Bald Eagle nest active again on the James River a little downriver from
the downtown area.
Gene Sattler
Lynchburg
