Friends often ask, "What do you think about the Barred Owls?" My heart replies, They are beautiful, silent, and intelligent raptors. We are lucky to have them in our cities.
However, the real question my friends seem to want answered is, What do you think of the US Fish and Wildlife's plan to eliminate some of the Barred Owls? Barred Owls out compete Spotted Owls in the old growth forests of Oregon, Washington and California. The research shows Spotted Owls decline when competing with Barred Owls.
This link has more details on the issue from the US Fish and Wildlife. Please be patient, it may take multiple tries to actually get through.
Historically, Barred Owls did not exist in the west coast forests. In the last century, they have found forested "bridges" that allowed them to cross the plains and reach the west. Apparently, these forest pathways were created by the trees planted on farms built across the North American plains.
Spotted Owls, on the other hand, are specialists. They can only live and survive in our western old growth forests. The competition is even more serious because the old growth forests have been vastly reduced by logging in the last century. Spotted Owls are smaller than the Barred Owls, less aggressive, reproduce much slower, and are less abundant when sharing the same habitat. Barred Owls eat a much wider variety of foods, so they have smaller territories and multiple pairs of Barred Owls can survive in the same area that would support only one pair of Spotted Owls. In addition Barred Owls do quite well in our city parks, in second growth forests and other places that Spotted Owls avoid.
Here are a few examples of the wide variety of creatures that Barred Owl eat:
By the way, rodenticides bioaccumulate and not only kill Barred Owls, but also the native Cooper's Hawks and any other creatures that regularly consumes rats. Learn more about alternative solutions to rat problems at the Urban Raptor Conservancy.
It also makes sense that the Barred Owls, who originated in the forests of Eastern North America, might catch and consume creatures that also originated in the east. For example, a young Eastern Cottontail Rabbit makes a perfect meal for a Barred Owl. In Seattle, the Barred Owls also feed on our non-native Eastern Gray Squirrels.
Moles are a local native food source for Barred Owls that are abundant in the Arboretum. Most often, the Owls probably catch them when young moles leave their original nest and begin looking for their own territory. Curiously, WDFW suggests that young moles usually only disperse 30 yards or less from their original nest, but they do so rather slowly.
Barred Owls also eat native birds. Here the adult is feeding an American Crow to its owlet.
In this case, the adult caught a Spotted Towhee for its young.
In the Arboretum, Barred Owls also hunt for food in the Woodland Garden ponds. This 2021 photo was the first time I actually saw one catch and consume one of the Northwestern Salamanders that live in the ponds.
Two weeks ago, I watched an adult, not far from the Woodland Garden ponds, bring a Northwestern Salamander to one of its young. The owlet held onto the rather large amphibian for quite awhile as if unsure what to do next. Its sibling watched anxiously - but did not intervene. A couple of times, the adult reached out as if it might retrieve the Salamander. Although, it may have also been preparing to catch it if it fell. Ultimately, the owlet kept a firm grip and finally consumed the Salamander.
A special Thank You to Tom and Harriet who both found the young owlets before I located them!
Last week, just after the rain stopped, I went out hoping to find the Barred Owl owlets again. First, I noticed the sounds of the American Crows, which led me to one of the adult owls. I followed the owl at a distance as it evaded the Crows and hunted Dark-eyed Juncos. While flying directly towards the Juncos it passed so close I could smell the scent of its dank moist feathers. After failing to catch any food, it settled on this branch and began cleaning and preening its matted and wet feathers.
I waited and watched, hoping, it might lead me to the owlets.
After pulling a number of feathers through its beak, which removes water and realigns the barbs, it began spreading and shaking its tail.
Then it fluffed up virtually all of its feathers at once.
Is finished by shaking its head while holding its body perfectly still.
(I would not try this at home.)
Finally, as the darkness began to fall, it apparently decided it had to find something to feed the young. It was almost like a last resort.
The Owl flew to a small grassy glade, surrounded by the tall trees of the Arboretum. It landed barely six feet above the ground and studied the soil intently. Twice, it flew down and landed in the grass. The second time it was successful. I have seldom seen Barred Owls hunt like this but in each case it was just after a rain. The Barred Owls apparently understand that when enough water sinks into the soil, worms come to the surface for air.
After making the catch, it flew to a nearby maple tree and delivered the worm to its young.
These examples of the varieties of food that Barred Owls will eat are not exhaustive. But it does illustrate the flexibility of the Barred Owls and how that helps them out-compete the Spotted Owls. The Spotted Owls are known to only find food in old growth forests.
Personally, I would love for the old growth forest and the Spotted Owls to survive, and thrive, and be available for future generations. However at best shooting Barred Owls is a temporary work around. Maybe, this approach will enable us to save the Spotted Owls from extinction while we discover a real, sustainable solution to the issue. (Click Here for a photo comparison of a Barred Owl and a Spotted Owl.)
However, if climate change continues, it seems unlikely that the old growth forests will survive. Exceptionally hot dry summers are likely to kill the ancient trees, even if we are lucky enough to protect them from forest fires. Once the old growth is gone, not only will the Spotted Owls disappear but all the other creatures that reside only in old growth forests will also be gone.
After taking some time to think this through, my concern about shooting Barred Owls is,
"Are we wasting time and resources that should be focused on the more critical crisis of climate change?"
I do believe we are lucky to have Barred Owls, who appear to be able to adapt and survive in spite of climate change, rodenticides, and all of our other unintended consequences.
Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry
and another:
Going Native:
Each of us, who breathes the air, drinks water, and eats food should be helping to protect our environment. Local efforts are most effective and sustainable. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and the local native creatures. Even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape.
I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors, and local businesses to respect native flora and support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:
1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (When native plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.
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Keystone native plants are an important new idea. Douglas Tallamy, in the book "Nature's Best Hope ", explains that caterpillars supply more energy to birds, particularly young birds in their nests, than any other plant eater. He also mentions that 14% of our native plants, i.e. Keystone Plants, provide food for 90% of our caterpillars. This unique subset of native plants and trees enables critical moths, butterflies, and caterpillars that in turn provide food for the great majority of birds, especially during the breeding season.
Note: Flowering plants and trees, i.e. those pollinated by bees, are also included as Keystone Plants.
This video explains the native keystone plants very nicely:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5cXccWx030
The Top Keystone Genera in our ecoregion i.e. Plants and trees you might want in your yard:
Additional content available here:
https://wos.org/wos-wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Native-Plant-Resources-10-7-22.pdf
The Email Challenge:
In response, I have set up my own email list. With each post, I will manually send out an announcement. If you would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Something like:
Larry, Please add me to your personal email list.
My email address is:
LDHubbell@comcast.net
Thank you!
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The Comment Challenge:
Bottom Line:
If you write a long comment, please, copy it before hitting enter. Then, if the comment function fails to record your information, you can send the comment directly to me using email.
My email address is:
LDHubbell@comcast.net
Larry