On Sat, 11 Jul 1998, Diann MacRae wrote:
> Can anyone here in Washington - Puget Sound area - describe to me the call
> of a just-fledged barred owl?

It's pretty easy right now to check out the calls of fledgling Barred Owls and
get some close-up observation and photo ops too. There are 3 owls hanging out
together in the Mill Creek Nature Preserve (164th/Bothell-Everett Hwy).
You'll find them by listening for the hissy screech. (8 PM is a good time.)
They seem very comfortable with people---the trails are heavily used by
walkers and joggers. I have seen them 10-15 feet up in the trees, frequently
right over or next to the trail. You can walk right up to them, and they'll
hang out for 45 minutes watching you, occasionally moving to an adjacent
branch or tree, and calling a LOT!

Here's another Barred Owl question: How do you tell adults from fledglings?
These 3 look identical. Are they 2 adults and a baby, or 3 babies? The
security guard who patrols says it's one baby. I looked in my 5 books and
could find no mention of differences in appearance or calls.

Cathy Mohns
Mill Creek
catsafari at aol.com