Diann,

assuming that your Barred Owl is not a floater, it is most likely a male. Females are still on
eggs, or with very small young at this time in the Puget Sound lowlands. Males are out doing the
hunting. Females generally do not stray far from the nest tree, though they do come off to receive
food from the male, cough up pellets, etc. When the young are first hatched, the females stick to
the nest and males start making food deliveries directly to the nest site.

Males are smaller than females, as is true with most raptors, though he will have the deeper, lower
pitched call when the two are dueting.

May and beyond is when the young become branchers and then start flying (I am avoiding
the "fledgling" debate. I have a hard time with it with owls.)

-Jamie Acker
owler at sounddsl.com
Bainbridge Island



------- Original Message -------
>From : Diann MacRae[mailto:tvulture at vei.net]
Sent : 4/7/2011 11:10:07 AM
To : tweeters at u.washington.edu
Cc :
Subject : RE: [Tweeters] barred owls

Hi, Tweets

I never have turkey vultures in or over my yard (well, once twenty
years ago). However, we do have barred owls that are here often. I
sat down this morning to do e-mail and felt something looking at me
and there it was, on a cedar branch just a few feet from the window.
It's been hunting here for a couple weeks and is quite vocal, mostly
at night - and from other property just behind mine. I assume they
nest there - lots of forest here. What I am wondering, and perhaps
Jamie can answer, when do the young start branching/fledging? I've
had young in our trees - only one at a time - in other years but
never kept record of the dates. I have no idea whether I am seeing
mom or dad owl at present.

No matter what, it's fun watching it.

Cheers, Diann

Diann MacRae
Olympic Vulture Study
22622 - 53rd Avenue S.E.
Bothell, WA 98021
tvulture at vei.net

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