an interesting sidenote:
FIELD GUIDE to WESTERN BIRDS, 1st edition, 1941 by Roger Tory Peterson makes no mention of Barred Owl as a Western Species and states that Spotted Owl is rare thru out it's range


FIELD GUIDE to WESTERN BIRDS, 2nd edition, 1961 by Roger Tory Peterson lists Barred Owl and lists it's range as E. Montana, E.Wyoming, ne Colorado(casual)

FIELD GUIDE to WESTERN BIRDS, 3rd edition, 1990 by Roger Tory Peterson lists Barred Owl and shows an extended range thru out mountains of Washington, Oregon, N Idaho and Montana and states that it " may eventually displace ( the Spotted Owl) in the Northwest

That the Barred Owl has expanded and the Spotted Owl is being displaced is established.
Not so clear is how killing 3000+/- Barred Owls will change the course of nature, particularly since it appears that even in good habitat (for Spotted Owls) Spotted Owls populations are declining.

Keith E. Carlson
Lewiston