Calling all tweets:

We (an informal Breeding Bird Atlas promoter committee -- Hal Opperman,
David Swayne, etc.) are trying to plug the "owl gap" in our BBA data, in
particular, for King and Kittitas counties (but wherever). Since many owls
are rather sedentary, e.g., Western Screech, Great Horned, Barred, Spotted,
etc., and often establish territories beginning in February, we are
interested in any reports you may have of owls that appear to be on
territory, paired, or nesting. Please pass along any such reports to me with
date (at least month & year -- yes, past reports are also welcome, back 10
years or so), species, nature of behavior indicating POSSIBLE, PROBABLE or
CONFIRMED nesting. Please indicate the location in terms of county plus
township, range, and section (or, at least, "quad," that is the ne, nw, se,
or sw quarter of the township). Of particular interest is whether the owl is
calling, over what period of time it has been calling or continued to call,
whether a pair is/was present, and any more certain evidence of breeding,
e.g., nest occupied, young seen, etc. Observations during fall and early
winter are less likely to indicate breeding, so late winter, spring, and
summer records are of greatest interest. Thanks.

Gene Hunn, Seattle, hunnhome at accessone.com