Barred Owl

Jeanette and I took my sister Susan, and her husband Jeff hiking yesterday morning on some of the Loop Trails of Beaver Creek State Natural Area.  It was great fun to share some of the beauty of the area, get in some exercise, and enjoy a good visit. The highlight of our wildlife sightings was this Barred Owl we got to see on the Beaver Creek Loop Trail. It flew up into a nearby tree and perched for some time so we all got a good look at it.  Barred Owls have had an interesting range expansion from the East Coast, to the West Coast of Canada, and South into Washington and Oregon.  They are now being viewed with concern in forest management circles because there is evidence that they may be replacing the environmental sensitive Spotted Owl.