Tweeters,

FYI, the U.S. Forest Service published a full color folder (really nice
photographs, IMHO) in June 1993 which was authored by Evelyn L. Bull and
Arlene K. Blumton and prepared by the Pacific Northwest Research Station
entitled "GREAT GRAY OWL Spring Creek Management Area". I got my copy
three years ago by contacting the La Grande Ranger District, 3502 Hwy.
30, La Grande, Oregon 97850. Phone (541) 963-7186. I'll quote now
directly from the folder's introduction:

" A unique population of great gray owls was discovered in the Blue
Mountains in the 1980s in a n area called Spring Creek. This population
is unique because of the high density of birds (at least eight pairs in 4
square miles) and because they have nested every year, except one, since
1982.
The Spring Creek area was logged in the 1970s leaving open,
parklike stand of ponderosa with islands of denser stands of Douglas-fir.
The owls hunt in the open stand of pine and nest in the dense
Douglas-fir habitats, which provide shade and protection from avian
predators, such as ravens and great horned owls.
Originally, the owls nested on vacant northern goshawk nests. Most
of the owls now nest on artifical platforms, however, because the stick
nests have disintergrated, and large snags, also used for nests are not
present. The artifical platforms are about 2 feet square and are placed
30-50 feet off the ground in large trees. The La Grande Ranger District
of the USDA Forest Service, which manages Spring Creek area, has an
ongoing program to provide nest platforms for great gray owls. "

The folder goes on to describe nesting behavior, suggest the best time to
visit, illustrates a moderately detailed map of the area with areas
frequented by great gray owls highlighted, provides directions for
finding the Spring Creek area (nothing could be easier, since it just off
I-84 from exit 248) and even offers suggestions for responsible viewing.


Furthermore, when I led a field trip there the end of May, 1997, noticed
an extensive article in the La Grande newspaper about forest service
personnel leading field trips to see the owls for the local high school
kids. In this particular case the publicity doesn't seem to have caused
these owls any harm. This is not to imply that this case has any bearing
on any other case anywhere.

Dennis K Rockwell
Kennewick, Washington
denniskrockwell at juno.com

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