[Birdtalk] Barred owls in Utah

[L. D. Giddings]

Dave,

in the past twelve months I have contacted three different DWR employees
requesting information about various avian species. Two have flat-out
ignored me, and the third finally got back to me only after a great deal
of persistence on my behalf but then had the temerity to misrepresent
his efforts to contact me. There has also been a rather unpleasant
experience with a supremely over-zealous compliance officer in San Juan
county. I find myself asking why in the world I should bother entering
into such a one-sided relationship. DWR plays an important role in game
and non-game avian management, without question. But if DWR employees
lack the courtesy, grace, maturity, or patience to respond politely to
those of us who pay their wages when we ask reasonable questions of
them, I find myself unlikely to feel even remotely responsive to their
requests. I can only speak for myself, but you might pass this on to our
DWR "friends" who would like to partner with the general public.

Lu Giddings



David Wheeler wrote:

>  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 WheelerBirder at large
>
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