Using Hand- and Mist-Nets to Capture Small Ninox Owls: Lessons from Three Australian Case Studies

Catching birds is a common and well-established practice that is valuable for research, management, conservation and animal welfare. The most appropriate technique varies among species, and some taxa, including owls, can be particularly challenging to capture. Here, we describe the methods used to capture three small Ninox species and provide transferable lessons to guide the successful capture of other small forest owls. Between 2019 and 2026, we successfully developed capture methods for three small Ninox species, the Norfolk Island morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata), the Tasmanian boobook (N. leucopsis), and the Christmas Island hawk-owl (N. natalis). Hand-nets or mist-nets were successfully used for each species, with thermal scopes, bright narrow-beam headtorches, call broadcast and model decoys proving valuable in different study systems. Our observations indicate that the most appropriate technique for catching small hawk-owls is context-dependent, with successful capture relying on matching the technique to the ecology, behaviour and habitat of the target species. Careful interpretation of behavioural cues and the strategic use of supporting technologies further improve capture success.