Without warning, a Barred Owl flew from the forested ravine to a branch next to the pedestrian bridge upon which we were standing. It stared fiercely, leaning forward in a stalking pose, then swooped below to snatch an Eastern Gray Squirrel from a tree.
Flying with the squirrel in its talons, it perched on a nearby tree branch. Just as it landed, the squirrel squirmed free and fell some 30 feet into dense brush below where it scurried off. The owl tilted its head downward from its perch and focused its awesome powers of sight and hearing on finding the squirrel. It then flew silently, stealthily down to the ground and foraged in the Skunk Cabbage and Horsetail to try to catch the squirrel, but to no avail.
Look up and listen for these exciting wildlife encounters this time of year in urban parks and rural forested areas. Witness these owls displaying their super powers: silent flight, superb eyesight and hearing, the ability to capture prey with their feet, and to turn their head almost completely around.
Barred Owls are the most common of the 19 owl species in the U.S. Originally a bird of the south and east, during the 20th century, Barred Owls expanded their range into forested areas of the Pacific Northwest, including SE Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and northern California.
Once established in moist, forested habitats, these owls take up residence. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology “Barred Owls do not migrate and they don’t even move around very much. Of 158 birds that were banded and then found later, none had moved farther than six miles away.”
The concept of owls being resident yet originating in the eastern U.S. can be confusing. Expanding range is different from migration; it happens gradually, usually over a period of decades. Migration refers to the regular, seasonal movement away from and back to the breeding grounds. Residents are birds that remain in the same area year-round.
In a productive habitat, these owls can live a long time for birds, up to 20 + years. The oldest recorded Barred Owl lived to 24 years old in Minnesota, in a harsh continental climate compared to the moderate west coast marine climate we have in Seattle.
Barred Owls eat a variety of small animals, ranging from squirrels, chipmunks, mice, rats, voles, rabbits and birds to amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates. They hunt by sitting and waiting on an elevated perch while scanning with their sharp eyes and ears. Due to the structure, softness and flexibility of their feathers, they fly silently. They can turn their heads most of the way around – 270 degrees either way.
Territorial year-round, Barred Owls are even more so during nesting season. Sometimes they strike intruders with their feet. I know of one person this happened to twice while jogging through a park.
Although they are near the top of the food chain, at least in urban areas, Barred Owl nests are preyed upon. Great Horned Owls and hawks, along with weasels, and raccoons raid their nests. Unfortunately, Barred Owls have moved into Northern Spotted Owl territories, and prey upon these smaller owls, a Federally-listed Threatened species. A controversial management program is underway in three states, including Washington to kill Barred Owls in these places. The jury is still out on whether or not this is an effective strategy to restore Spotted Owl populations.
Here in the city, Barred Owls play an important ecological role by controlling populations of Eastern Gray Squirrels, Brush Rabbits and Rats. In more ways than one, we are lucky to have them around.
Birds like robins, crows and jays can help you find them. These bird species engage in mobbing behavior in an attempt to drive predators like owls out of their territories. You can hear these birds sounding alarm calls and/or see them flying in groups or solo close to or even striking the owls. Better yet, you might hear the Barred Owl’s signature “Who cooks for you-all?” hooting.
Soon, they will have downy, curious, food-begging juveniles beside them. The juveniles make a raspy sound of their own that eventually leads to their parents feeding them, another spectacle to behold.
Sources:
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology com website
- Handbook of Bird Biology, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- What It’s Like to Be a Bird, David Allen Sibley
- Effects of Barred Owl (Strix Varia) Removal on Population Demography of Northern Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) in Washington and Oregon, July 2020, U.S.G.S report
