Subject: [Tweeters] Barred vs. Great Horned Owl observation/Question
Date: Jan 5 21:46:32 2010
From: Mike Wile - mikewile at comcast.net


Hi Tweets-



For the past 13 years, I have lived in unincorporated Redmond WA. Ever
since we moved here, we have had barred owls calling in our yard throughout
the year. About 3 years ago, I heard our first 'yard bird' great horned,
but barreds were still the dominant species. In the last 9 months, great
horneds calls have been an almost weekly occurrence, with barred owl calls
being conspicuously absent.



I know that barred owls have been expanding and helping to extirpate spotted
owls. However, in this case, barreds seem to be outcompeted by great
horneds. Do you think this a normal occurrence? Or, perhaps, is this just
a case where my study area is so small that it is subject to more random
events?



Just curious what you all think



Thanks and good birding



Mike

Mike Wile

Redmond WA

mikewile at comcast.net