> Or to put this in a biological question, in 50 years, if Barred owls replace
> Spotties, what measurable affect would it have on the function of the
> forest?

The Spotted Owl is essentially a rodent specialist, whereas the Barred Owls eat a much wider variety of foods, including many amphibians. We should not assume that they are "equal" in terms of impact on the forest.

By the way, the February WOS meeting is a program on the ecology of Barred Owls in the eastern Cascades.

Mike Donahue
Seattle