Researchers at Indiana Dunes State Park will be holding owl banding demonstrations through mid-November.
Birders from the Indiana Audubon Society will catch the small owls in nets, record their information, put a small metal band on their ankle and release them.
The owls, about the size of a robin, are brought into the nature center at Indiana Dunes where the public can watch researchers record their information and band them.
Marie Laudeman is the organizer for the banding at Indiana Dunes.
“Researchers are gaining information about migration patterns, along with overall health of the population, how many there are out there.”
Laudeman said the banding helps track age, sex, migration and lifespan of saw-whet owls. She says birds they have banded have shown up in other states like Maine.
She said the dunes are a great place for owl tracking.
“The fall is a great migration time here at the Dunes State Park. The Great Lakes provide a great flyway for a lot of our birds that are that are migrating to different habitats, warmer climates to find food.”
She said during events on October 28, 29 and November 5, participants can help catch and band the owls.
You can find more information about owl banding events at the Indiana DNR website.