When does one species become more important than another?

The spotted owl.

Steeped in controversy and the bane of northwest loggers. Is the continuation of this species (subspecies) more important than other similar species?

Fish and wildlife may think so.

If the spotted owl isn't able to compete, do we "thin out" its competitors? Is that right?

The ever-controversial northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) has been protected under the Endangered Species Act since 1990, but despite the best efforts of lawmakers and conservationists the bird's population numbers continue to dwindle. Now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has a radical plan to help the raptor: kill some of the barred owls (S. varia) that are outcompeting their spotted cousins for food and habitat.

Spotted owls became notorious following several decades, starting in the 1980s, of back-and-forth lawsuits as environmentalists tried to end logging in the Pacific Northwest's old-growth forests, the habitat the owls depend on for their nests and food. Logging on federal land was banned in 1991, and since then logging in Oregon alone has declined 95 percent, from 4.9 billion board feet of timber in 1988 to just 240 million board feet in 2009, according to The Oregonian. But even with less of its habitat being destroyed the spotted owl population has yet to bounce back.

Aside from its shrinking habitat, the major threat now, according to the FWS, is the growing number of barred owls in the area. These birds are more aggressive, can live in any type of forest, and eat more types of food than spotted owls, making them more adaptable to the current Pacific Northwest landscape.

According to the FWS's latest draft recovery plan for the spotted owl: "Limited experimental evidence, correlational studies and copious anecdotal information all strongly suggest barred owls compete with spotted owls for nesting sites, roosting sites and food—and possibly predate spotted owls. The threat posed by barred owls to spotted owl recovery is better understood now than when the spotted owl was listed. Because the abundance of barred owls continues to increase, the effectiveness in addressing this threat depends on action as soon as possible."

The recovery plan doesn't spell it out how it would control the barred owl population, but The Oregonian reports that "over the next year, in three or more study areas from Washington [State] to northern California, they might kill 1,200 to 1,500 barred owls."

We have barred owls all over on the east coast. They are a handsome species - but... does their commonality make them less important?

Just something to think about. You can read more here.

Time to Celebrate

I hope you will all join me in celebration! I will be doing my part tomorrow morning.

It's Squirrel Day. Really

By Mike Brownlee
WORLD-HERALD NEWS SERVICE

COUNCIL BLUFFS — Today is National Squirrel Appreciation Day.

To celebrate, residents are encouraged to nibble food furiously, climb trees and appear to be scared of everything. Well, not really.

But it really is a day to celebrate an animal whose black incarnation is celebrated by Council Bluffs

“We certainly appreciate squirrels, every day,” said Kathy Fiscus, director of leisure marketing for the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce.

Fiscus mentioned Chipper, the black squirrel that serves as the official mascot of the city.

“That’s our way of embracing the black squirrel. It’s a way to introduce some natural history to children in a fun and positive way,” Fiscus said.

Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitator in Asheville, N.C., established National Squirrel Appreciation Day in 2001, according to holidayinsights.com. “Celebration of the event itself is up to the individual or group,” she said, “anything from putting out extra food for the squirrels to learning something new about the species.”

Today also is National Hugging Day, though a combination of the two holidays is not advised.

I will be hugging them - as will Tess and Gonzo. If you get a chance to celebrate, let me know!

Thanks Kathy for sharing the link!

Air Firce Falcon goes AWOL

From Yahoo:

The Air Force Academy's live mascot, "The Bird," took advantage of his usual pregame flight around the stadium to flee the premises ahead of the Falcons' 14-7 Independence Bowl win over Georgia Tech, leaving Independence Stadium behind for a quick tour of the Shreveport nightlife – bars, casinos, eligible swallow-tailed kites on the town. According to the ESPN2 broadcast, The Bird eluded his handlers for the better part of three quarters before finally being spotted downtown, corralled and hustled back to the stadium for the victory party as the final seconds ticked down on the Falcons' win.

Read more here:

The White Hawk Mystery

He calls the bird a “white hawk mystery.”

Is it male? Female?

A red-tailed or a rough-legged hawk?

He wonders.

His hunch is the big white bird might be female.

He saw it sitting with a regular red-tailed hawk who was calling the standard call. He thought maybe that bird was a male flirting with the white bird.

Read the rest here.

Are you busy the second week of September?

Do you live in the North East? If you are one of those who is fascinated by raptors but have very little first hand experience, there is a place for you to be.

Wildlife rehabilitators and experts from across the Northeast will be showcasing a wide variety of these extraordinary birds of prey at the largest raptor celebration in New England. Eagles, falcons, owls, vultures, and hawks will be featured in live flight demonstrations and educational programs for bird enthusiasts of all ages.

Join master falconer Laurie Schumacher from Hamilton, New York, for Talons! A Bird of Prey Experience on September 12 and 13 – Gyr Falcons, European Eagle Owls and American Kestrels are just a few of the raptors featured. Breath-taking free flight demonstrations highlight this program focusing on falconry, raptor biology, and conservation.

This unrelated image came from here.

Read the rest here, and if you are in the area, check it out.

More News

Wooduck, who comments here from time to time, sent me the link to this article about a woman who hunts with a red tail in Virginia. She uses a feist to tree squirrels, and her husband is very tolerant. It's a good read when you have a chance.

Diary of a Falconer