As a former bander, I know that wild birds are often living on the edge.
Eight years ago, a colleague and I were banding birds (mostly wood-warblers)
in central Alberta. On one morning, there was an unusually large movement
of birds through our net lanes. Many of the birds were captured--as it
turned out, too many. We tried our best to free the birds and close the
nets, but we were overwhelmed. Quite a few warblers died in our nets that
morning.

The Snowy Owls being seen in the Pacific Northwest are food-stressed and,
quite possibly, living on the edge. Banding birds in this condition,
however skillfully done, would add to their stress and potentially push them
over the edge.

When considering the banding of individuals of a species as extensively
studied as the Snowy Owl, we need to ask ourselves who the real beneficiary
of the banding is: the Snowy Owl or the graduate student pursuing a novel
thesis.

Regards,
Jason Rogers
Banff, AB
hawkowl at hotmail.com