Owl Banding with Berkshire Bird Observatory

Fall is here—the leaves are turning, the temperatures are dropping, and soon Saw-whet Owls will be migrating into our region!

Our friends from Berkshire Bird Observatory (BBO) invite you to an evening owl banding session just for Lenox Library patrons on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 7:45 p.m. at Jug End State Reservation in Egremont.

Each fall BBO bands Northern Saw-whet Owls as part of a collaborative effort to learn more about the movements and population trends of these secretive, nocturnal birds.  They open nets only on nights with relatively cold temperatures and north winds to maximize capture rates.  On nights when conditions are suitable, BBO bands for four hours per night, starting at sunset, using a single, x-shaped array of four mist nets centered on an audio lure. Curious owls come down from the sky during migration and when we are lucky some of these owls end up in the nets.  Once captured, BBO bands each owl and collects data on age, sex, body condition and molt before releasing them back into the night sky.

Don’t miss your chance to see these magical birds; please register here.  Registration is limited to 20 participants.  BBO will send confirmations the day of the banding session.

In the event of inclement weather, the session will be held the following evening on November 5, 2025.