Tweets and Patty, On the Barred owl. The Northern Barred owl will just be
setting up housekeeping about this time. Their call can be heard from miles
away, but will respond to even poor human attempts to immitate its call. I
generally stick to one or two vocalizations that I hear them most often make
and they do respond quickly, esp. when nesting. But you don't want to provoke
the birds, just try to get a general idea where they may be nesting. They
will use old hawk nest(not a good idea,they don't do any repair work and often
young fall out and die).On occasion they will make their own nest which is
also poorly made and eggs and chicks often fall out of these also. But they
prefer tree cavities. The Northern Barred Owl sticks to deep swamp tangles or
dark woodlands. They love the heavily forested areas, and with all the nesting
pairs my husband Mark and I have found in Washington state, this holds
true.The male can be considerably smaller, males can weigh 11.6 oz. and up to
20 oz. The female 13.6 oz to22.8 oz.....male length averages from 22.3"
to16.1"....females 17.8" to24.2"....male wingspan from 38"
to43.3".......female from 39.5" to 44.9"....The male voice is considerably
deeper and mellower than the females. They actually can call any time of
day, especially during the nesting season. We observed many times the male
barred bringing food near the female, call and she would come get the
food and feed the owlets herself. This was just after fledging that we
would observe this behavior. This species of owl will often hunt in the
heavily wooded forests which are very dark or on overcast days, whether
nesting or not. But will not hunt on dark moonless nights.Rarely is the
bird terribly aggresive towards humans even when in close proximity of their
nest. But on occasion there is always one with an attitude, so keep your hat
on, to save your scalp...The juvenile owls make a soft hissing noise, and we
have often hear this in the middle of the day when they are out and anxious
for a meal. They are very approachable, and will respond to squeaking soft
noises one can make on their fist. They appear to be as
curious about us as them. However approachable they are and good for studying
the behavior and eating habits( we saw a weasel, several snakes, and a juvie
crow as well as moles and the vermin kind being eaten) The largest that they
usually can catch is the size of a cotton tail rabbit.
Incubation of the nest ranges from 21 to 30 days. The nestings are covered
with a thick white down, which is replaced in the 2nd to 3rd week with what is
called the first downy plumage, this is multicolored both back and wings are
broadly white at tips sooty brown across the center and buff colored closest
to the birds body. This is the plumage we usually see the birds in first as
we are terribly successful at finding the nests.
Between the 4th and sixth week the birds begin to leave the nest. By the 7th
week the downy plumage has becomewell developed, and underparts begin to show
some spotting or barring. This info on plumage should help you determine how
old the owlets are. The parents quite often feed them well into november,
depending on when they were hatched. If you can find an opportunity to
observe these owls and their young it is a life changing experience.
Sometimes three eggs ae laid, but we have only seen a pair of juvies. We have
watched with fasination as the young play, sometimes the smaller of the
babies, reaching over to pull the wing feathers on the larger bird, who seems
quite patient. We have watched them play King on the Mountain, each stepping
over the other to be on the tip of a fallen log; only to have the 'fallen
king' maneuver its way to the top again.
We have also watched them as they tried for the first time to eat a centiped,
who kept crawling through their claws, both seeming interested in exploring
this little object together. Then they moved on and I saw, though still
alive, a very disjointed centipede, on his way to insect heaven. Most of our
observations have been At Federation Forest, and Wildwood Park in Puyallup,
and adult behavior at morse refuge (in Graham)
when we were allowed on the side road to survey the land conservancies
property.... Its not that barred Owls are uncommon anymore. But it is an
opportunity to study owl behavior few other owls allow.. One thing; the books
discuss the competition between the young. The only time we observed
aggressive behavior was when mom brought the chow; and it was over in a
minute....The big concern is the impact these birds have on our beloved
Spotted owls. They have been known to Hybridize, and they have been caught
red handed having killed a spotted owl.....Barred owls have migrated far and
fast due to the forests, and urban areas deveoped by man connecting them to
the spotted owl habitats, and the barred is easier to please as far as where
it is willing to nest, and feed. This should be more than enough info; to
help you out. I can't imagine you having any questions, but if you do my email
is below......Vicki Biltz
sawwhet85b at netscape.net

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