Cute but fierce

Nighttime monitoring program at PEPtBO

A saw-whet owl offers an unblinking stare at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory. These tiny nighttime predators are heading south from the boreal forests to their winter hunting areas. The birds are captured and banded before being released as part of a long-term lifecycle monitoring project. Until recently, little was known about these diminutive owls, but a clearer picture of their lives is emerging.