2021 Newsletter from the Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund
You can
make the
difference
Remember our
wildlife and the wild
places that we want
future generations to
enjoy. Make sure to
"check" for wildlife on
your state tax return.
Look for the
peregrine falcon
symbol and donate
all or a portion of
your tax refund to the
Wildlife Conservation
Fund. You can also
donate throughout the
year by calling (402)
471-0641 or online at
NebraskaWildlifeFund
.org
All donations are
fully tax deductible.
and WILD PLACES
SAVING WILDLIFE
PHOTO
BY
JOEL
JORGENSEN
In Search of Saw-whets
By Stephen Brenner, Nongame Bird Biologist,
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Small Owl, Big Questions
F
ew animals capture
the imagination
like the northern saw-
whet owl (Aegolius
acadicus), one of North
America's smallest
owls. These diminutive
predators weigh a mere
3 ounces (similar to a
tangerine) and stand
only about 8 inches
tall. Up until the mid-
1990s, ornithologists
and birders alike
considered this tiny
owl a rare sighting, and
much about its natural
history was unknown
throughout their range.
However, for the past 25
years, an ever-growing
network of bird-banders
and owl enthusiasts
have been seeking out
saw-whet owls during
their fall migration,
usually from October
to mid-November. As
efforts increased and
more banding stations
popped up, it became
clear that these owls are
far more common and
widespread than many
would have imagined.
The bulk of the
Continued on page 2
A Northern Saw-whet Owl receives a leg band during its
fall migration. Biologists band the owls in order to greatly
expand our knowledge of this species in Nebraska.