[Birdtalk] Barred owls in Utah

[David Wheeler]

OK, now that I have your rapt attention....
 
I spoke with Frank Howe, Avian Program Coordinator, UDWR, regarding his
posting some time back about Barred owls in Utah.  Turns out there have
not yet been confirmed sightings of this species in Utah, though there
have been two unconfirmed reports down south in our Spotted owl range. 
However, the Bared owl has now been confirmed as close as central New
Mexico!
 
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE:
 
1.  The two owls are similar both in general appearance and voice, so
one should take care to differentiate the two instead of just assuming
that it must be a Spotted owl if the guides don't show the Barred owl to
range to extend to southern Utah.
 
2.  The Barred owl has been rapidly expanding its range (esp. on the
west coast) in recent decades and has decimated the Spotted owl where
the two species have met (rangers in Washington tell me it is much more
aggressive than the Spotted, and will often kill its more docile cousin,
especially at lower elevations).  It would be helpful for the Utah
Division of Wildlife Resources to know whether the Barred owl has spread
into Utah, presumably to better formulate a response plan (this latter
is my own hopeful interpretation).
 
I encourage the birding community to keep its eyes and ears open and to
report any findings to Frank Howe (as well as the rest of us birders, of
course).  You could help out in the science and management of these
species, even if the news would be sad for us Spottophiles.
 
Frank's e-mail is (at least was, as of his last posting):  
frankhowe at utah.gov
 
Thanks,
 
David Wheeler
Birder at large

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