Barred Owl – One cool bird!

I know that all owls are cool and most people like them, even if they can't identify them.  There are many books just on owls of North America, and there is even a Facebook group called Owls of Montana with 3,674 members.  If you like owls it's worth looking at that page as the pictures are fabulous.  Most of the pictures are of Great Horned owls, but all of Montana's 15 owls have been photographed if you scroll down far enough. It is a private group, but anyone can join if they have an interest in owls.

So why do I like the Barred Owl.  First of all is their call.  It is a loud series of hoots that sounds much like, "who-cooks-for-you, who cooks for you all."  How cool is that?  They are very responsive to their call in most seasons using either electronic or voice calls.  I have heard folks who have practiced this call and have it down to the point that I can't tell the difference between them and the owl, and neither can the Barred Owl. They are very vocal, and you will hear them, when you might not see them.

So why do I get excited about the Barred Owl?  I can find them.  The reason I can find them is that their habitat is very specific.  They like mature deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests.  They are most partial to extensive closed canopy, mature old growth forest near water.

I know where there is a place like that.  Just below Orofino Campgrounds on the Boulder Road east of Deer Lodge.  The area is a mix of deciduous aspen and old-growth Douglas Fir.  The actual location is in Deer Lodge rather than Powell County.  

The first one that I ever saw was at Warm Springs Ponds.  Friends called and said they saw one in the willow trees along Eastside Road.  I rushed out and was not able to find it in that location, but after an intensive search I did locate the Barred Owl nearby.   At that time I thought it was a migrant, but now realize it was a young bird trying to find its own territory.  As the owl flies the Orofino and Warm Spring sites are about 6 miles apart.  Barred Owls are a year around species in Western Montana. 

I have gone to the Orofino site at least 6 times and have always found 1 to four adults in the area.  They are an aggressive owls so when you play their call they often come in to investigate at a fast speed and come very close.  They have little tolerance of people coming close to their nest and can display aggressive behavior.  It can be a little unnerving as there are records of them striking a human.   

As owls go, they are big, imposing, barrel-shaped, dark eyed owl. The face is a series of circles with a yellow bill and white chin.  The breast is barred and the belly is streaked.  Overall the bird is grayish-brown on white a background. I have yet to get a good photo of one. 

They are either calling and I can't find them, or so aggressive that I forget the photo and leave them alone.  The photo with this article is from my friend Andrea Sterile, who first saw the bird at Warm Springs Ponds.

Due to only being seen in Western Montana and having a highly specific habitat there are only 717 sighting with the Montana Natural Heritage data base.  Compare that with the familiar Great Horned Owl that is seen state wide in a variety of habitats and has been seen 10,277 times.

Owls are a little difficult to see, many are only heard at night.  However, if you study the field guides and go to specific habitats you can find them. 

I have seen all 15 species in Montana, but the most I have seen in a single year is 14. 

Good luck finding owls in 2023.