Subject: Strix varia (Barred Owl)
Date: Nov 13 09:02:26 2002
From: Dick Cannings - dickcannings at shaw.ca


Hi Jamie et al.:

The other idea that has been put forward about these fall (usually
August-November) attacks by Barred Owls is that they are by young Barred
Owls mistaking human heads for prey (the story usually involves women with
ponytails that might be mistaken for squirrels). This version is attractive
since it's hard to believe that adult, experienced Barred Owls defending
territories would mistake human heads for intruding Barred Owls. These
attacks are common in the neighbourhood wooded parks of Greater Vancouver.

Cheers,
Dick Cannings

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jamie Acker" <biowler1 at juno.com>
To: <tamurray at coopext.cahe.wsu.edu>; <dickcannings at shaw.ca>;
<kmazur at gov.mb.ca>; <rockd at pacifier.com>; <ipaulsen at krl.org>
Cc: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 7:42 PM
Subject: Re: Strix varia (Barred Owl)


> Todd,
> You are not the first to be attacked by a Barred Owl. I have also been
> attacked on two different occassions by the same male Barred Owl. I was
> owling in the areaboth times during nesting season, and even though I
> never found a nest, I must have upset this bird badly. I hope you did
> not get seriously injured. I had a set of talon marks circling my left
> eye. I was extremely lucky (for being dumb). I wear a helmet when I
> enter this particular owls woodlot. Out of all the Barred Owls on the
> Island (26+), this is the only individual that has ever attacked me at
> night. It is not a normal occurrance.
>
> Most Barred Owl attacks on humans come in the fall. Presently, the hatch
> year birds that are still alive are out looking for territory and
> wandering around quite a bit. I think that this may cause Barred Owls
> with established territories to defend them against the invading
> youngsters. I know that when I owl lately, I mostly get adults to fly in
> silently, rather than being vocal. My guess is that your trespass was
> perceived as a territorial violation, and was addressed as such.
>
> The other time that Barred Owls will attack humans is in defense of a
> nest or young. During the nesting season, they can be quite aggressive.
> When climbing nests for the purposes of banding the young, about half of
> the females will make a pass or two at me.
>
> I have two radio-tagged hatch year birds, one of which disappeared off
> the island within 4 days of installation back in August. The other, a
> female, has come and gone. Last week she was over in Ilahee (near
> Bremerton). She had spent some time on the Island. I am almost positive
> that she had also been to west Seattle. They seem to have no fear of
> crossing water.
>
> Jamie Acker
> Bainbridge Island,WA
> Biowler1 at juno.com
>
>
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