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7th Annual Steaks and Saw-whets , We Had a Hoot This year the event was held October 2 and 3, 2009, and marked our 7th year of running the program. After a very late spring, summer and fall season for songbirds, we were a little concerned that the owls would not make an appearance. The big change this year was that Friday had more people attending than Saturday. Usually we have a smaller group to have a practice night before the big group comes out the next night. So we needed to be really prepared. It was also fairly cold at night so we had to make sure there would be lots of warm beverages to keep people warm. We invested in two 5 gallon thermoses for hot water and coffee....
Our volunteers put steaks and chicken on the Bar-B-Q, the potatoes and corn cob were ready, and all the fixings were out by 6:45 p.m. At 8 p.m. the mist nets went up and the call of the Northern Saw-whet Owl was played on a CD player. Chuck Priestley gave a short presentation about the bird observatory and the owl work and then Katie Calon led the first group of people to check the nets. Incredibly, we caught an owl the very first net check. And the owls kept coming, five of them through the evening. Unfortunately, Saturday’s weather did not cooperate. We set the nets, but chances were slim for catching owls due to the on and off very light drizzle and the windy conditions. The wind reduces the distance that the sound of the CD call will travel, which is important for attracting owls to the nets.
We would like to thank all the volunteers that helped make the event a success. On site were Isaac Calon, Al DeGroot, Matt Hanneman, Chuck Priestley, James, Keegan, and Paxton Sheppard, Margaret Takats, Josef Takats. Barb Beck provided her famous owl cupcakes (I never did get one), and Bryn Spence made the signs and T-shirts. Thanks to Katie Calon, our bander-in-charge for switching days off to help with the weekend. Thanks to Alberta Conservation Association and Federation of Alberta Naturalists for supporting our event.
Steaks & Saw-whets 2007
The evenings started with a barbeque steak and chicken dinner with onions, corn cob, potatoes, buns, followed by an assortment of home-made desserts. Even the icing on the cupcakes had an owl theme. While the meal was finishing up, the saw-whet owl nets were set up and the tooting call of the Northern Saw-whet Owl was played. Groups of visitors took turns walking out to the nets to see if we had caught an owl. The first night was plagued with wind, however we managed to catch one owl later in the night, when most people had left. The second night was colder, but without the wind, six owls were captured to the delight of 13 die hard people. We hope you will be able to make the event next year, tentative dates are September 26 and 27, remember to reserve early as we book up quickly.
Steaks & Saw-whets 2005
Steaks and Saw-whets 2004 Jason Duxbury  On a regular fall evening at the Beaverhill Bird Observatory, you can sit and listen to the fall leaves rustle, the soft calling of Sandhill Cranes flying over, or perhaps catch a glimpse of a migrating hawk. Also, the smell of the colourful leaves laying on the ground is what you would expect as you relax at the lab. However, on the evening of Friday Sept 24, you would have also heard the sounds of steaks and chicken grilling on the BBQ's and the smell of the BBQ wafting deep into the woods. It was Steaks and Saw-whets 2004.On top of the sounds of laughing and conversation, you would have also heard the constant call of the Saw-whet Owl recording that was playing deep in the woods. The owl recording is used to draw in migrating Saw-whet owls to the nearby aspen woods. Dinner was served as the mist-nets were set, and conversation turned to guessing the number of owls that would be caught that night. With steak, chicken, potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, salads and all the desserts one should ever eat, it was a feast for everyone at the lab.  While dinner was winding down, the first net-check took place. Normally, the first check proves to be fruitless, but on this night there was already a capture! The staff brought the little female saw-whet back to the lab in order to band it in front of the gathered crowd. This provided the visitors with a fantastic opportunity to see a Northern Saw-whet up close. What a hit! Once the owl had its new piece of jewelry and everyone had a chance to get a great look at the owl, it was released back into the night. However, the owl didn't go very far, opting to perch in an aspen for all to see!To the joy of those visiting on the night, the first owl would not be the last. Before the last group set off for the parking lot, another four more owls would be caught. As the last visitors departed, their one last stop at a mist net proved to be well-timed as three more owls were caught in a net. With the three owls safely in Matt's arms, the group departed for a beautiful night walk through the Beaverhill Lake Natural area back to their cars.  Unfortunately for those who planned to come out the following night for the second round of Steaks and Saw-whets, the weather did not cooperate. Rain and wind made for a miserable night and no owls were banded.So another (partially) great Steaks and Saw-whets is in the books. Thank you to everyone who came out this year. Now all we can do is wait for next year's event and hope for the same weather we had on the Friday night. See you next fall! If you would like to join us in the fall of 2005, please contact Chuck at charles@ualberta.ca. Acknowledgments Thank you to the Shell Environmental Fund and the Alberta Conservation Association for continuing to support the Beaverhill Bird Observatory's interpretation and public education programs. Thank you to the Beaverhill Bird Observatory board of directors for continuing to support the Northern Saw-whet Owl Migration Program. Lastly, this event would not have been such a great success without the participation of those who attend. Your presence and contributions are gratefully acknowledged. |
The Beaverhill Bird Observatory celebrated another successful Steaks and Saw-whets event.
The Friday had been beautiful, sunny and warm for the time of year. People began arriving around 6 p.m. and we had some snacks out to tie everyone over until the steaks and chicken were ready. 
We were shut out on night two for Saw-whet Owls, but were happy to report that a Burrowing Owl made an appearance. We very much enjoyed hosting the event, and had many great conversations about birds and birding with many people that were in attendance.
Steaks and Saw-whets 2007 was held on September 28 and 29 and was a huge success. 
The Beaverhill Bird Observatory held another successful annual event to celebrate the migration of the tiny Northern Saw-whet Owl. The evening began with a barbeque (steaks, potatoes, corn cob, vegetarian options, desserts), and was followed by some netting for saw-whet owls. Both the Friday and Saturday night events were booked solid. This is an event you don't want to miss next year. To learn more about the event contact Chuck at charles@ualberta.ca or phone (780) 984-6957.
