"The study of the Barred Owl (Strix varia): Appearance, Location, Habitat, Food Habits, Reproduction, and Management Plans"
The barred owl (Strix varia) is the most commonly found in southeastern Ohio, but is range across North America is vast. Strix varia is a large, round-headed woodland owl with a grey-white facial disc. Its plumage is grey-brown with white spots on the back, white streaks on the belly, and distinct white bars on their neck and breast, from which their name is derived. It has brown eyes, a yellow beak, a long tail, and it lacks ear tufts (Quimby, 2000). The barred owl is 40-63 cm in length and has a wingspan that ranges from 96-125 cm. This owl can weigh anywhere between 500-1050 grams with the female being the heavier of the two sexes (Terres, 1980). The barred owl is a very vocal species with an easily recognizable nine syllable call; "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?" (Freeman 2000). This species of owl is also known to have four subspecies which are: Strix varia varia, Strix varia georgica, Strix varia helveola, and Strix varia sartorii. The subspecies are divided into distinct geographic regions with in North America (Figure 1).
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The owls use this under story to stalk and catch their prey from high above. The availability of perch sites and large trees for nesting have been found to be the most important factors in habitat selection. The Barred Owl can live in a variety of habitats including urban areas, swamps, oak savannas, marshes, and forests located next to fields that provide prey animals (Dark, Gutierrez, and Gordon,
The Pacific Northwest is perhaps most commonly known for its awe-inspiring old growth forests that have been gracing the land for hundreds and hundreds of years. The land in British Colombia, Canada, Washington state, Oregon, and parts of Northern California are the only areas in the world where these forests exist. One of the most unique and amazing inhabitants of this age-old forest is the Northern Spotted Owl. The Northern Spotted Owl has been on the endangered species list for over ten years now. The Northern Spotted Owl can only be found in these old growth forests. The northern spotted owl requires many acres old forests to survive, due to its scarce food supply. They are very sensitive to their habitat, and simply cannot survive in any other environment. These owls, as well as the forests have been disappearing at an alarming rate due to the immense logging industry in its area.
In 1927, Charles Elton took niche theory a step further and included food. He defined the niche of an animal as its place in the biotic environment and its relations to food and enemies (Elton, 1927). Grinnell also wondered if food was a limiting factor to the California Thrasher’s niche, but since the bird is omnivorous, it could find food in other habitats such as a forest floor or a meadow. There had to be other factors that restricted the bird to the chaparral bushes (Grinnel, 1917). Elton believes that the niche of an animal can be defined by its size and its food habits. It is important to study niches because it enables ecologists to see how different animal communities may resemble each other in the essentials of organization (Elton, 1927). For example, in a forest there could be a niche of owls that feeds on small animals such as rats. This same carnivore niche is filled with kestrels in the open grasslands. This carnivore niche is then dependent on the small animals in the herbivore niche (Elton, 1927). Hutchinson also discusses niche theory in his “Concluding Remarks” paper. His theory seems to combine some of the ideas
United States Department of the interior Fish And Wildlife Service, . North American Fauna. 2012.
Ever since 1973, when the Endangered Species Act came into being, conservationists and private landowners have been debating over whether to preserve the habitats of many endangered species found in unprotected areas (Ligon et al, 1986). Increasing levels of human development has led to the cutting of old-growth forests and construction of roads and other physical barriers to wildlife. These activities have greatly contributed to the fragmentation of wildlife habitat, which has had detrimental effects on the population structure and survivorship of the affected area’s indigenous species. One species that has been affected by habitat fragmentation is the red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), a nonmigratory bird with a home range covering most of the southeastern United States (Roise et al, 1990). Habitat fragmentation has led to the loss of genetic variability, nesting sites, and suitable population sizes to support cooperative breeding requirements. These factors have been responsible for the precipitous decline of the red-cockaded woodpecker. Because the red-cockaded woodpecker provides important ecological and economic benefits to both humans and the environment, we should strongly consider enacting a conservation plan for this species.
The common wildlife include southern short-tailed shrew, seminole bat, ringtail virginia opossum, rafinesque’s big eared bat, eastern cottontail, common gray fox, striped skunk, bobcat, white-tailed deer, Swamp rabbit, Eastern gray squirrel, Eastern flying squirrel, Bull Frog, At “Rare animals and habitat include the red-cockaded woodpecker and bald eagles. Interestingly, bald eagles breeding populations occur in the is region of Texas and wintering occurs in suitable habitats across Texas.” (Texas Parks and Wildlife, n.d.) “About three percent of the remaining habitat is considered intact. Bottomland forests around the Red River have been completely converted.
U.S. Department of the interior, National Park Service. (2013). Endangered Species. Retrieved from website: http://www.nature.nps.gov/biology/endangeredspecies/index.cfm
In conclusion, owls have shown they are excellent at adapting to any environment by the ability to fly silently to stalk prey. They use camouflaged and insulated feathers to hide and keep warm while hunting. Owl’s excellent binocular vision, and hearing helps to track prey from long distances. The only real risk of extinction of the burrowing owl is if people continue to kill off animals that dig holes for them. They have shown the ability to survive for a long time with the help of other animals digging holes for them. Owl’s will continue to evolve long after humans have
I have chosen to do research on the Northern Spotted Owl for my keystone lab. Many factors can influence the life of this species. The Northern Spotted Owl is said to be located in the Old Growth Forests of Northern California, Oregon, Washington and some small areas in British Columbia, and Canada. The northern spotted owl has inhabited these areas for hundreds of years, yet was only found as a species in the early 1900’s. We are all aware the Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) is a keystone species, but it is also known as an indicator species of Old Growth Forests. Thanks to the constant need for lumber from timber companies, the Northern Spotted Owl has been steadily moving towards an eventual extinction. ("Northern Spotted Owl.")
direction, the major problem for their decline would have to be remedied – loss. of the habitat of the sailor. This fact combined with the owls' short life expectancy and late age. breeding only exacerbates the problem. When loggers remove old growth owl loses habitat for its food, housing, as well as protection from predators.
8. Taylor, Dan. 1998. Audubon Society Inspired to Action by Bird Die -offs . 17 Jan. 1998 . E-mail . Available bkus@sunstroke.sdsu.edu
Spotted owl populations are rapidly decreasing because of the barred owl invading its land, and scientists are rushing to find a viable solution. In states such as California, Oregon, and Washington, spotted owl populations have decreased drastically, and scientists are working rapidly to try to find solutions. These researchers have tiringly studied the habitat and livelihood of the owls, and are determining whether the barred owls are responsible for this drop in population and habitat area. Scientists have tried to find different solutions, but there is controversy on which method is best to deal with this imposing problem. The barred owl threatening the spotted owl is a crisis in the West that needs to be solved, and the
American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) are a species of bird found in the family Corvidae, a family that also includes magpies, nutcrackers, and jays (Eastman, 1997). According to Eastman’s book Birds of Forest, Yard, and Thicket, there are around forty-two Corvus species, and most of them live in the Northern Hemisphere (1997). American Crows in the United States usually do not migrate, but they do migrate to Canada. Not all American Crows migrate, but they are social birds who form wintertime flocks that sometimes reach over 200,000 birds (Burton et al., 2010). American Crows have a number of features that make them identifiable, and to help keep them from being confused with another member of the Corvus genus, the Common Raven (Marzluff et al., 2013).
Works Cited Bates, D. (1957, December 17). Letter from Roy Wilkins. Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America. Beals, M. P. (1994). The Species of the World.
Sikes, Roberts. and William L. Gannon. "Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the Use of Wild Mammals in Research." Journal of Mammalogy 92.1 (Feb. 2011): 235-253. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 5 Oct. 2011.
This ground nesting bird’s population decreased from 16 million during the 1900’s to nearly 350,000 in 2010. That is nearly a 98% loss of all sage grouse. In 2004, the sage grouse was refused protection under the ESA. However, on Sep. 22, 2015, the sage grouse was found to warrant protection needs and inducted to the federal endangered species list. Amphibians and reptiles in the Southwest United States have posed major survival issues, in particular the Arizona Toad species found in Utah. These toads, as well as many other reptiles and amphibians, are experiencing excessive habitat loss along with other threats to their survival. The Arizona toad is currently under review to determine the severity of it’s threatened state and if it should be protected under the