Rehabbed Great Gray Owl Banding

Here's some Great Gray news of a different kind. :)

Beth Watne, Director of Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center in Columbia Falls, MT, is been rehabbing an injured Great Gray Owl and will release it back into the wild very soon. While ORI's research is based on wild owls and conducted in the field, situations like these are a great opportunity for us to expand banding pools and our knowledge of western Montana Great Gray populations.

Since we won't be able to join her for the release, we visited her facility yesterday and, in Part I, you will see the banding process. In Part II, the Great Gray tests her flight and landing abilities. Despite a permanent eye injury she looks to be in good health and ready to return to the wild!