In a message dated 97-12-21 13:38:10 EST, you write:

<< ....Sure enough, a LONG-EARED OWL sitting quietly up there starring down at
us from a branch near the top of a pine; in fact, irony of all ironies, in the
very same tree on the very same branch where I last *did see* a Barn Owl in
there in January 1996.... >>

Oh, I am so dyslexic! The LAST time I saw the *Barn Owl* in this pine grove
was 'last' winter as like in January *1997*. See what I mean about keeping up
with which year was which! And you thought I was just kidding! As far as I
know from what others who have tried to find it (them; there are two) have
told me, there have been no repeat Barn Owl sightings in the pine grove since
the January 1997 visit when I found one almost instantly within the first 30
seconds of looking.

Now, one more thing and *plea* with regards to the current Long-eared Owl ----
PLEASE; no using tape play back if you are so impatient or unsuccessful the
first time or on subsequent visits. This could chase this rarely seen visitor
to our side of the mountains out of the pine grove and deny others a fair
chance at perhaps catching a glimpse of it. I'm not particularly worried
about the owl's safety or welfare; it would just go off and hide somewhere
else where no one will ever find it again. Tapes may very likely not make any
difference anyway, but just the same, let's not risk it. Thanks much!

Sincerely, Richard

Richard Rowlett (Pagodroma at aol.com)
47.56N, 122.13W
(Seattle/Bellevue, WA USA)