Northern saw-whet owl banded at Sewickley Heights Park, 17 Oct 2026 (photo from Bob Mulvihill on Facebook)

22 October 2026

When Bob Mulvihill announced the start of this year’s Project Owlnet to band northern saw-whet owls, he was not optimistic about the weather.

The predicted weather for tomorrow night’s [Friday 16 October 2026] start of the fall owl banding season at Sewickley Heights Borough Park is not ideal, to say the least. There is a chance of showers, and the wind may be a bit strong. Nevertheless, I plan to show up and give it the old college try!

Northern saw-whet owls (Aegolius acadicus) migrate through Pennsylvania from mid-October through early December. Though they are one of the most abundant owls in North America, they are very small and secretive. Project Owlnet is usually our only chance to see one.

There were no owls on opening night but the next day, Saturday 17 October, was spectacular. The project captured and banded the unusually high number of four owls! Steve Gosser and Jeff Cieslak took photos.

Northern saw-whet owl at Project Owlnet banding station, 17 Oct 2026 (photo by Steve Gosser)

Each owl was weighed and measured and its feathers were assessed to determine its approximate age. One of the best ways to age these owls is to look at the underwing in black light.

Here’s a hatch-year bird, evident because all the feathers are the same age.

Hatch-year northern saw-whet owl underwing in black light, 17 Oct 2026 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)

And here’s an adult owl showing some feather replacement.

Adult northern saw-whet owl underwing in black light, 17 Oct 2026 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)

When the season started Bob Mulvihill said, “It promises to be a very good flight of Northern Saw-whet Owls this year after last autumn’s very low count!” You bet!

Project Owlnet continues every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday evening through 5 December 2026 at Sewickley Heights Borough Park. (Owls are not guaranteed.) All birds are captured and banded under a federal permit issued by the Bird Banding Lab, part of the U.S. Geological Survey.

For more information see Project Owlnet on the National Aviary website or the Facebook event at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1743625620080263/1744676026641889

p.s. How hard is it to find a northern saw-whet owl? eBird species abundance maps are generated from eBird reports. If no one sees or hears the bird, it isn’t a dot on the map. This is especially evident with northern saw-whet owls who “toot” a lot in early April, are silent in thickets in July ,and are listed at banding stations in November. Notice how the abundance reports change for this bird in the weeks of 5 April, 26 July and 1 November. April: Lots of birds heard. July: nothing seen or heard. Nov: birds recorded at banding stations and perhaps a few toots.

Pennsylvania shows up on the November map because we have a robust banding program.

eBird weekly abundance maps for northern saw-whet owl starting with week of 5 April