TNN: Owls with Tyler Christensen; Oct. 22

Owls are among our most unique, mysterious, and poorly-known birds.  The Northern Saw-whet Owl is our smallest in eastern North America, weighing less than a stick of butter and able to fit in a coffee mug.  These owls are so secretive that many skilled birders have never glimpsed one in the wild.  Yet, at the right times of year, they are the most abundant owl in our region.  Each autumn the nonprofit Wild Bird Research Group harmlessly captures and bands hundreds of Saw-whet Owls to learn about their migration.  Join WBRG staff for a live virtual tour of a Saw-whet Owl banding operation, and with some luck, meet some wild owls and witness the banding and data collection process.

Tyler Christensen is an ecologist, ornithologist, and environmental educator, and is the Director of the Wild Bird Research Group.  WBRG is a New Jersey-based nonprofit coordinating ornithological research from the Mid Atlantic to Costa Rica – including everything from hummingbirds to raptors.