Audubon sponsoring trips to watch owl banding

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society is sponsoring two nighttime field trips this fall to watch an expert catch, band and release migrating owls on South Mountain, in Washington County.

The trips will be held on Saturday, October 27 and Saturday, November 3. They will start at about 8:30 p.m. and last until about 10:30 p.m.

These trips have long been a favorite for whole families, and interested members of the public are welcome to participate.

The expert who will conduct the banding is Steve Huy, who has been banding owls on the mountain for many years as part of Project Owl Net.

The owls he will be banding are the Northern Saw-Whet Owl, the smallest owl in eastern North America. Visits to his banding site offer a unique opportunity to see these birds up close and learn about their life history.

Pre-registration is essential because space for each trip is limited to 20 persons.

To pre-register for the trips and to get more information contact Carolyn Thomas at 304-267-3115 or webethomas@ aol.com.

These trips involve a walk over uneven ground and they are therefore not recommended for anyone who needs assistance.