ADOPT AN OWL

Exciting news: Our Adopt-an-Owl program is back for its third year! Symbolically adopt a banded Northern Saw-whet Owl and directly support our owl research efforts.
 
Owls are among the least understood birds in the world, and there is much we do not know about their numbers, migrations, nocturnal behaviors, and habitat needs. Northern Saw-whet Owl is eastern North America’s smallest (and arguably cutest) owl, a focal species of Wild Bird Research Group’s conservation work. Each fall and winter we safely capture and band hundreds of these owls during their migration to learn more about them and their fascinating life histories.

Owl adoptions directly support Wild Bird Research Group’s many owl research initiatives and make an excellent gift for an owl-loving friend or family member. When you symbolically adopt a banded Northern Saw-whet Owl from our research station, you or a designated recipient will receive:
 
✔️ an official adoption certificate
 
✔️ a portrait of the owl
 
✔️ the owl’s original encounter data
 
✔️ a photo of the owl’s wing illuminated by ultraviolet light, along with the owl’s wing length and mass—information that researchers use to determine the age and sex of migrating owls
 
The certificate holder can visit a web URL included with the certificate to determine the age of the adopted owl and whether it is male or female. The certificate holder will be notified if the adopted owl is reencountered anywhere in North America.

*Please note: We wait to fulfill owl adoption orders until early December because our small nonprofit staff is busy banding owls until this time.  We ship priority mail, so there will be no tracking number for your order.  Rest assured, if you are considering giving an owl adoption as a gift for the holidays, we can guarantee delivery of digital certificates by December 20th, and physical certificates by December 22nd.

Digital Certificate

Digital copy delivered
via email

Closed for the season

Printed Certificate

Shipping only available to
US and CAN

Closed for the season

Already have a Saw-whet Owl?

To age and sex your Northern Saw-whet Owl compare your data to our ultraviolet photographs and wing/mass chart.