The Ned Smith Center’s Banding Project
•PURPOSE:
–To determine to what extent saw-whets migrate through PA - found to be a common migrant, and the project moved on to other issues:
–Monitor long-term changes in Saw-whet owl populations
–Track the time of migration of age/sex groups
–Study stopover paterns
–Study molt and other aspects of biology
–Migration Routes: To determine what routes the owls are using:  broad fronts, ridges, and/or vegetation corridors
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•SITE DATA RECORDED:
–Time of opening nets and closing nets
–Weather on opening and closing site: temp, wind, precipitation, cloud cover
–Moon phase: the data from the 3 previous years indicates darker nights produce more owls…except right at New Moon, suggesting owl like it dark, but not too dark.
–Identity of banders and volunteers