Tweeters:

In line with Jamie and Wayne, my sense is that W. Screech-Owls have become
harder to find in the last 10-15 years, correlating with an increase in
Barred Owls. Out on my owling beat on Sequim-Dungeness CBC, for example,
Screech used to be found at a number of sites; but in recent years they have
become much more local. True, Barred Owls are not common in the area, but
they are around. At Graysmarsh, where Screech was easy until about 5 years
ago, our first Barred Owl came in low over my head, close enough I could
feel the whoosh of feathers, several years back--in clear response to a
whistled imitation of Screech.

In the foothills south of Sequim, near the turnoff for Dungeness Forks at
the s.w. edge of the count circle, I've had Barred Owls respond to Spotted
Owl recordings several times. Yet historically the river valley here had
Spotted Owls, but now it is clear they have been displaced.

I also note that the CBC Screech Owls I still do encounter seem somewhat
less responsive in their calling than birds, say, 20 years ago. Often, a
bird will call just once or twice and then fall silent--perhaps as if to
say, I'm here but I'm not going to risk it any more than that.

Although Screech Owls don't seem to be doing well in interactions with
Barred Owls, it is interesting to contrast that with N. Saw-whet. That
species, at least out at Sequim, seems to be at least as common as 20 years
ago, in fact our best counts have been in the last 10-15 years (true, that's
never more than 3 or so, and partly due to the fact we've gotten better at
staking them out ahead of time). Still, whether more maneuverable in escape
or not as overlapping Barreds' wooded ravine ecotype as Screech does, the
species does seem less affected.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com