MSRW

Owl Banding and Research. Owls are netted and banded during the spring and fall migration. Data on the owls is recorded and shared with appropriate scientific research groups. During the fall migration MSRW netted and safely banded and released 702 owls. The owls were categorized by sex and age, banded and safely released. Data recorded was shared with other scientific research organizations.

Water bird migration during both spring and fall of 2021 included over 132,000 migrants of 164 different species. The results were tabulated by day and recorded. Data was shared with appropriate scientific research organizations.

Hawk Count by species during Spring and Fall migrations. During the Spring and Fall raptors of 24 different species were counted and categorized by day. During the spring and fall migration over 67,000 raptors of 23 different species were counted and categorized in Mackinaw City and on Mackinac Island All data was recorded and shared with other scientific organizations. In 2022 MSRW caught 15 Red Tailed Hawks and attached GPS/GSM Transmitters to these birds. The birds were safely released. The migration patterns of these hawks are be tracked and recorded.

MSRW provides public information and education through a Raptor Naturalist program at the count sites. The naturalist provides information to the public, verbal and in print, about the birds that are seen overhead and explains the count techniques. In addition, the organization administrator and contractual researchers are available to give talks about the organization's research activities and goals.