On a cool October night, a bundled-up researcher is working to gently extract a Northern Saw-whet Owl from a mistnet. Guided by the beam of a headlamp, the researcher plucks strands of netting from the grasp of the owl’s talons, then tugs a couple more strands up and over the wings, over the head and voila- the owl is free. In the background, the repetitive “toot-toot” of the owls’ song pierces the chilly air from a loudspeaker. The researcher pulls the owl close to their chest, the...
