Tweeters,
I was attacked in February and again in May two years ago by the same
male BARRED OWL while owling. The first attack caught me completely off
guard- I had called in 3 Northern Saw-whet owls when a large owl flew in
overhead. There had been a Great Horned Owl calling the previous week
from this location, and I had no reason to suspect a BARRED OWL. I tried
calling BARRED OWL three times as well as GREAT HORNED OWL three times,
with no response. I gave up and walked away. I had gone almost 200
feet, crossed a stream, and had the moon directly at my back when he hit
me hard in the back of the head. I screamed. I saw where the bird
landed and used my light to identify a BARRED OWL. After I started to
walk away again, I had an uneasy feeling and looked in time to see a pair
of wings and a set of talons pass overhead. He had made another pass at
me.

The second attack in May was worse than the first, in that I turned
towards the bird after having called it in . It showed up silent, and
flew down lower to me. As I was walking away, I once again felt uneasy
and turned backwards. I caught a faceful of talons - I had five marks
around my left eye, as well as two more gashes on my forehead. I was
lucky not to lose an eye to this bird.

This particular male BARRED OWL is very territorial. I was not near the
nest- at least I never found the nest despite my best attempts. I have
had this bird escort me out of the forest by flying low overhead from
perch to perch as I progressed through his turf, calling at each new
perch. My kids refer to him as "Mr Nasty". I respect him immensely.

I also have at least three other pairs of BARRED OWLS that do not display
this intense behavior. As a species, individuals seem to display varying
personalities. I know that the bird that attacked me knows me. I
regularly owl his forest, using the same taped call. I just don't own it
the way he does.

BARRED OWLS go on eggs around the second week in March, and become
silent. They will respond to calls by flying in silently, with no vocal
response (usually). After the young hatch, BARRED OWLS become
increasingly more vocal and responsive. Right now, young birds are
setting up territories, while established pairs are reestablishing bonds.
I am presently finding BARRED OWLS more widespread from their nesting
territories now, but they should be returning to them soon.

While it seems early for BARRED OWLS to be attacking people in defense of
their territory for nesting, a young bird may be trying to establish
territory.

I have been awaiting release of The Birds of North America, Barred Owl
for some time. Hopefully, it will have some information regarding the
territorial/aggressive side of this bird. I do know that in the East,
the BARRED OWL is regarded as a bird of the deep woods, and tends to shy
from humans. Since spreading westward, the species seems to have
developed a mean streak. The one nest I located is in an alder tree in a
backyard between two homes in a suburban setting. Adaptation. Spotted
Owl beware.

Jamie Acker
Bainbridge Island
BIowler1 at juno.com

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