A significant number of migrating owls have kept researchers at the Mugaha Marsh Banding Station busy as they move through northern B.C. in a remarkable display not witnessed in years.
Jeannine Randall, a bird biologist at the Mackenzie Nature Observatory, located approximately 200 kilometers north of Prince George, expressed excitement about the current season’s owl activity. She mentioned that while the station typically captures around 100 owls, they have already caught 266 so far, setting a new record with two weeks remaining.
This surge in owl migration created an unexpected challenge: a shortage of the specialized tracking bands required for monitoring the birds. According to Randall, the station faced a scarcity of larger bands crucial for saw-whet owls due to delays in delivery from the bird banding office.
While seeking assistance from other organizations, it became evident that the owl influx was widespread, causing similar shortages at various monitoring stations. Randall attributed the rise in owl numbers to an abundance of small rodents this year, which are the primary prey for these birds.
Although the high owl numbers at Mackenzie are positive, they may not reflect the overall trend for owl species in the province. Rémi Torrenta from Birds Canada highlighted that many owl populations have been declining over the past 25 years, including the northern saw-whet owls.
Torrenta explained that the current owl abundance likely follows a documented four-year cycle where a boom in owl numbers is succeeded by a crash in the rodent population, leading to mass migrations in search of food. To monitor these patterns, Birds Canada coordinates the Nocturnal Owl Survey, a citizen science program that relies on volunteers nationwide.
Randall emphasized the importance of the Mackenzie Nature Observatory banding project in contributing essential data for understanding owl populations and migration routes. Recently, the station recaptured an owl banded in Victoria in 2024, shedding light on the species’ movement patterns.
By participating in volunteer programs like the Nocturnal Owl Survey, researchers can better track owl populations and trends across the country, aiding in conservation efforts and species understanding.
