Feds plan to kill half a million barred owls in West Coast states over the next three decades

Published on: 03/28/2024

This news was posted by Oregon Today News

Description

A barred owl at SW Ash and Naito Parkway, downtown Portland, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2023. Often confused with the spotted owl, the barred owl moved to Oregon at least 50 years ago and has become a permanent resident. The bird, originally native to the eastern U.S., is resilient, considered invasive and has damaged spotted owl populations along the West Coast. Along with the sage grouse, the federally protected northern spotted owl might be the most controversial bird in Oregon. Found in the canopies of old growth forests, they have struggled for decades due to displacement by the invasive barred owl, which is now a permanent Oregon resident, and logging of forests. Despite its size, the pygmy owl is an aggressive hunter. It’ll prey on everything from mice to birds and other mammals over twice its size. It can be found in many forested areas in Oregon and especially in mountain zones. The snowy owl is the largest owl by weight in North America and a rare but steady visitor to Oregon. Adapted for the arctic, the owls visit Oregon every few years and can be spotted on coastal dunes, high deserts, agricultural areas and tall buildings. The flammulated owl is the tiniest owl in North America and preys mostly on insects. It’s “hoot” is among the lowest toned of all owls. They can be found in the eastern Cascades, Blue and Wallowa mountains, and in the mountains of SW Oregon. This robin-sized western screech owl is a nocturnal carnivore that can be found year-round in western Oregon in elevations mostly below 3,000 feet. They roost in tree cavities during the day and forage on critters from sunset to sunrise. Unlike most owls, the short-eared owl is more often seen than heard. It can be found in the Cascades in wetland areas flying in stealth close to the ground seeking out rodents and bats. During breeding season, they’re active during all hours, day and night. The great gray owl is Oregon’s tallest owl, but not the heaviest. Both the great horned and snowy owl have more girth. Its large disc shaped face works like a satellite dish collecting scarce sounds and other information while hunting. This shy small earless nocturnal owl was recognized as an Oregon resident just over 40 years ago. The boreal owl can found in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness in Umatilla and Wallowa counties and on the south slopes of South Sister Mountain in Deschutes County. The great horned owl will eat anything from scorpions to skunks along with fellow raptors such as ospreys, falcons and owls. The bird is prevalent across North America and often encountered by people. The tufts, or “ears,” make this strictly nocturnal owl easy to identify. It can be found east of the Cascades in wooded areas, and its hoot can be heard from nearly a mile away. The bird’s eggs have been found in nests of other birds of prey. Pictured is a a juvenile fledgling great horned owl. The owl will eat anything from scorpions to skunks along with fellow raptors such as ospreys, falcons and owls. The bird is prevalent across North America and often encountered by people. The great gray owl is Oregon’s tallest owl, but not the heaviest. Both the great horned and snowy owl have more girth. Its large disc shaped face works like a satellite dish collecting scarce sounds and other information while hunting. Unlike most owls, the short-eared owl is more often seen than heard. It can be found in the Cascades in wetland areas flying in stealth close to the ground seeking out rodents and bats. During breeding season, they’re active during all hours, day and night. This robin-sized western screech owl is a nocturnal carnivore that can be found year-round in western Oregon in elevations mostly below 3,000 feet. They roost in tree cavities during the day and forage on critters from sunset to sunrise. Unlike most owls, the short-eared owl is more often seen than heard. It can be found in the Cascades in wetland areas flying in stealth close to the ground seeking out rodents and bats. During breeding season, they’re active during all hours, day and night. Along with the sage grouse, the federally protected spotted owl might be the most controversial bird in Oregon. Found in the canopies of old growth forests, they have struggled for decades due to displacement by the invasive barred owl, which is now a permanent Oregon resident, and logging of forests. The northern saw-whet is a nocturnal forest bird that is common yet small and hard to see and more often heard. The state wildlife department says it’s one of their most surveyed owls at night along the Oregon coast range. A barn owls puffs itself up to make it look larger than it really is. A great horned owl pictured in 2008. This owl will eat anything from scorpions to skunks along with fellow raptors such as ospreys, falcons and owls. The bird is prevalent across North America and often encountered by people. This shy small earless nocturnal owl was recognized as an Oregon resident just over 40 years ago. The boreal owl can found in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness in Umatilla and Wallowa counties and on the south slopes of South Sister Mountain in Deschutes County. Despite its size, the pygmy owl is an aggressive hunter. It’ll prey on everything from mice to birds and other mammals over twice its size. It can be found in many forested areas in Oregon and especially in mountain zones. Unlike most owls, the short-eared owl is more often seen than heard. It can be found in the Cascades in wetland areas flying in stealth close to the ground seeking out rodents and bats. During breeding season, they’re active during all hours, day and night. The female barn owl is bigger and fancier than the male. Neither hoot, but screech. They are common permanent residents west of the Cascades. East of the Cascades, barn owls are more often found in agricultural areas. This tiny long-legged burrowing owl lives and nests in the vacant burrows created underground by desert rodents in eastern Oregon’s sagebrush steppe and grasslands. They have a high tolerance for carbon monoxide allowing them to spend long periods underground. The flammulated owl is the tiniest owl in North America and preys mostly on insects. It’s “hoot” is among the lowest toned of all owls. They can be found in the eastern Cascades, Blue and Wallowa mountains, and in the mountains of SW Oregon.

A federal government plan for hunters to kill thousands of invasive owls to protect the rapidly declining northern spotted owl has ruffled the feathers of dozens of animal advocacy groups.

News Source : https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2024/03/feds-plan-to-kill-half-a-million-barred-owls-in-west-coast-states-over-the-next-three-decades.html

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