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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 10:51:47 EST
From: Liz Kelly (lizgabriel at aol.com)

Barred Owl Questionnaire

We are currently seeking Barred Owl records for a project on the distribution
and range of Barred Owls and their potential displacement of Spotted Owls in
Oregon and Washington. If you have any information they would like to
contribute to this effort, it would be greatly appreciated. Our project
proposal (abbreviated version) is attached. Generally speaking, we are
looking for date and location information of Barred Owl (or Sparred Owl)
observations; specifically, we are looking for the information below. Please
fill out the best you can, and forward this email to other interested parties.
*** please note: questions 4-11 may be found on USGS topographical maps. if
the information is unavailable, make sure to send a map with the barred owl
location marked on it.**** thanks for your assistance.

1) State
2) County
3) City/Town
4) Township
5) Range
6) Section
7) Quarter section
8) Sixteenth section
9) UTM X/UTM Y
10) Latitude/Longitude
11) Elevation
12) Observer #1
13) Observer #2
14) Month
15) Day
16) Year
17) Number of males
18) Number of females
19) Number of unknown
20) Number of young
21) Pair status (i.e., single, pair, unknown)
22) Nest location
23) Habitat type (and other comments)


24) Is the Barred (Sparred or Hybrid) Owl site associated with a nearby
Spotted Owl site (within 1.5 miles)?


25) If MAPS are available, PLEASE send us a copy.


26) Your name/address/phone/email:


Contact Information: Liz Kelly (lizgabriel at aol.com)
104 Nash Hall
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
541-757-0084
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Abbreviated Proposal for: The Northern Barred Owl in Oregon and Washington
Project
A study of Northern Barred Owl distribution, rate of range expansion and
displacement of Northern Spotted Owls

Project Coordinators:
Dr. Eric Forsman (USDA Forest Service/Oregon State University)
Dr. Robert Anthony (Oregon State University)

Contacts:
Liz Kelly (M.S. student)

INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE SPECIES

Since the early 1940's, the Northern Barred Owl (Strix varia varia) has
expanded its range from southwest Canada to northern California. More is
known about this species in the eastern United States than in the Northwest.
Barred Owls are associated with dense forests, isolated woodlots, mature or
old growth forests and often inhabit areas close to a water source. They nest
in cavities in trees, and occasionally in nests deserted by large birds. They
are a relatively fecund species, typically producing two to three young per
year. The Barred Owl is congeneric with the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix
occidentalis caurina); some taxonomists consider them a superspecies. As a
result of current and historic expansion, the Barred Owl's range now overlaps
most of the range of the Northern Spotted Owl.


REASONS FOR THE STUDY

Anecdotal and empirical evidence suggests that as the Barred Owl has expanded
its range, it may be displacing Spotted Owls. However, the rate of range
expansion or displacement of Spotted Owls has not been quantitatively
assessed. The Spotted Owl is currently listed as federally threatened (United
States Fish and Wildlife Service 1990). In addition to habitat loss, there is
a widespread concern that the Spotted Owl may be further threatened by the
range expansion of Barred Owls because:

1) Spotted Owls may be susceptible to competitive exclusion in habitats
occupied by Barred Owls;
2) The presence of Barred Owls may limit the availability of resources for
Spotted Owls (e.g., nest sites and forage);
3) Anecdotal evidence suggests that Barred Owls are more aggressive
behaviorally than Spotted Owls and are the dominant species;
4) Hybridization of Spotted Owls with Barred Owls is occurring at an unknown
rate.


PROPOSED PROJECT

This project will be the first region-wide study of Barred Owl abundance and
distribution. We will also examine rates of apparent displacement of Spotted
Owls by Barred Owls. Data on owls will be collected from all possible
sources, including the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife, private industry, birding organizations, regional journals and other
available sources.

Data will be analyzed in two ways. First, all historical records of Barred
Owls detections will be analyzed for trends in distribution and numbers of
detections over time. Second, because they are responsive to Spotted Owls
calls, approximately ten years of data on Barred Owls exists, collected during
Spotted Owl surveys throughout Oregon and Washington. Data from these
Demography Study Areas will be analyzed to estimate the rate at which Barred
Owls have displaced Spotted Owls from historical breeding sites and their
potential impact on Spotted Owl fecundity rates.


CONTACT INFORMATION

Liz Kelly
Department of Fisheries& Wildlife, Nash 104
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541) 757-0084
lizgabriel at aol.com