Barred Owl

I would be so excited if I came across something like this. I totally agree with 'LivesInADream's' comment!

TOO CUUUUUUUTE!

Also, the spotting will not be complete until you add the scientific name of your bird. You can go into your spotting and click on edit and add Strix varia and save it. Look forward to seeing more of your BC spottings!

Great spotting Jordan. Happy to see another BC spotter on PN! I have a mission trying to document all the Breeding Birds of BC. Would you join and put this spotting into that mission: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/9990...
Thanks!

Such a sweet picture!! Welcome to Project Noah! I'd love you to add this spotting and any future spottings that apply to the mission Raptors of North America: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8627...

Great first spotting!

Fluffy!!!! :)

Adorable :)

Interesting, thanks for the insight Jeff.

I agree. Habitat loss is the underlying reason for the decline of spotted owls. There were several presentations at the recent Wildlife Society conference in Portland regarding interactions of the two species. The barred owl is spreading and pushing spotted owls out of the remaining suitable habitat. When I worked with spotted owls in California, there was no old-growth on the 200,000 acres I was monitoring. We had about 80 pairs. Of course, that is redwood country, and the trees become large enough to support nesting platforms in 50-75 years. Both state and federal agencies are quite involved with the species throughout its range.

Jeff - I think it's interesting that the discourse these days around the decline of the Northern Spotted Owl seems to place more blame on the Barred Owl expansion than the underlying threat of old growth logging practices in British Columbia. @jeffdreier

This species is now considered one of the biggest threats to the northern spotted owl. Regardless, barred owls are a successful species. I recall hearing their calls in the southeast. In North Carolina, I imitated their calls and got responses from 3 individuals, during midday. They can hybridize with spotted owls, but the resulting "sparred"owls have wierd calls and apparently have a tough time finding a mate. I monitored one hybrid for a couple of years. He had a female spotted owl with him, but they never attempted to nest during those two seasons.

Welcome to Project Noah jordan.manley,

I hope you like the site as much we do; there are many features you can explore:
I invite you to go to http://www.projectnoah.org/faq where you will find the purpose and “rules” of Project Noah.
There is a blog http://blog.projectnoah.org/ where we post articles from spotters with special insight into different organisms.
There are also the chats for help with identification, and to comment on your own and others’ spottings.
Look at the global and local missions to put your spottings into: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions
Enjoy yourself here, see you around!

Beautiful, thanks for sharing!

Very cute spotting Jordan :-)