Just a comment about saw-whet owls, as I came in late on the owl-finding thread
that Dave Nunnallee eloquently expounded.

I think saw-whets actually *are* pretty common, from a few times when I've
been out in "appropriate" habitat at the right time of year and heard one or
more calling at almost every stop. This has included the Blewett Pass area
and the main highway 20 west of Republic.

Also, Joe Van Os tells me that they are numerous in the woods around his house
on Maury Island (Vashon Island) every spring, just singin' away.

PYgmy owls are also more common than most people think. In September and Oct
ober, I can almost invariably call one in in conifer forests east of the
CaScades. I guess they are dispersing to their winter territories at that time
and are very responsive to vocalizations. I have had 3 come in at the same time
once, and two several times.

But overall I agree, it takes a lot to find owls. One comment about playback. I might have misunderstood, but I wouldn't think you'd need playback if you were
just trying to document the occurrence of owls. But if you wanted to see a
specific one, then you'd obviously have to do that. I assume you weren't
committing "playback" on every owl you heard! Or--on second thought--perhaps youjust meant "playing a tape" to see if any owls were present. I have certainly
had mixed success even by doing that (mixed = one response in 5-10 stops).

I have a lot more sympathy now for the people who have to use clunky mail
programs, as I have been sweating over vax mail for the past week.

Have an owly New Year, everyone!