Tweeters:

Several comments yesterday suggested that Spotted Owls usually do not survive
life in suburbia, but starve to death.

Are there studies which verify this? Have there been enough Spotted Owls in
suburbia to reach a statistically valid conclusion? Are Spotted Owls outside
old-growth forests actually not that uncommon?

Do immature Spotted Owls outside old-growth forests survive at a lesser rate
than immature Spotted Owls in old growth? If there is a different survival
rate, is it caused by factors other than a presumable explanation that weaker
owls less likely to survive anyway would be the ones forced to seek new
territory?

If Spotted Owls cannot find food outside old-growth, why is that? What makes
a Spotted Owl unable to find food, when all sorts of other owls can?

I find myself questioning the decision to move the Everett Spotted Owl.

This owl reportedly had caught and was eating a starling. Apart from
performing an act which, in my humble opinion although I recognize others may
disagree, benefits western civilization, this owl evidently had the ability to
utilize an abundant resource to feed herself. Probably could continue to, if
the owl preys on sleeping starlings.

I disagree with the concern that someone might shoot the owl because that
person disagrees with the decision to protect old-growth habitat at possible
cost to loggers and that industry. Anyone who wanted to log old-growth would
do everything possible to have the Everett Spotted Owl survive, to "prove"
that Spotted Owls may not need old-growth timber.

I am also troubled by the suggestion that the owl had to be moved because
otherwise the public might not continue to associate Spotted Owls with old-
growth forests, or that possibly this Spotted Owl might survive and cast doubt
on "established" scientific studies, facts and theories. If I recall
correctly, weren't there recent comments that science is a process where
theories are constantly revised in the face of new observations or facts? Why
deny the opportunity for new observations?

Maybe Spotted Owls can adapt to city life. Is there any reason to object if,
through an evolutionary-type process, Spotted Owls that can survive outside
old-growth do survive? Did we interfere with that process?

Ah, yes, echoes of peregrine falcons. Thirty years ago how many would have
thought about peregrines nesting on the WaMu building in downtown Seattle?!

That said, I'm sorry I missed the bird. A real disadvantage to getting
Tweeters on the digest mode.

Eric Stahlfeld
Burien, WA