Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) are widely distributed throughout Western Canada, including the Canadian Boreal region. For nesting, these birds are intimately tied to forests containing large trees that can host cavities, resulted from fungal decay or excavations of large woodpeckers, like the Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) and Northern flicker (Colaptes auratus).

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Locating natural nest sites for study is difficult, as owls of these species often breed in remote locations where lack of roads and deep snow conditions restrict access. As a result, most breeding data comes from nest box experiments. While we strive to document owl breeding in natural cavities, our current work is focusing on nest box studies because boxes provide an efficient and cost effective method to document breeding, examine habitat associations of nesting owls, and provide important demographic data to assess population trends and changes in habitat quality. In Alberta, post-natal dispersion of these small owls, as well as Fall movements, are still not well understood. So, we investigate the post-natal dispersal, timing, and magnitude of Northern Saw-whet owl migration by trapping and banding owls during the Fall migration period. Please select an area of study below to learn more about our activities.