Spotted Owl
Strix occidentalis caurina
The spotted owl (Strix occidentalis ) is a species of bird in the family of authentics owls ( Strigidae ), which is widespread in western North America. This species was the reason for a broad political controversy that took place especially in the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were not to be exploited by the timber industry with the recognition as an endangered species million hectares of old growth forest in the states of Washington, Oregon and California. The discussion took place with great sharpness because of the logging in the forests of the American Northwest is a traditional profession, to allow classification of the species as endangered had far-reaching economic consequences. The disputes continue to this day. In February 2008, a decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a U.S. Federal Court again confirmed to declare 34,800 square kilometers to a special protection area for this species.
During the discussions, there were more than a thousand scientific publications on the spotted owl, which make it one of the most studied species of owl in the world. The investigations confirmed consistently that the spotted owl does not tolerate an invasion of its habitat. The IUCN classifies the spotted owl as a potentially endangered ( near threatened ). Overall, there are three subspecies: S. o occidentalis, S. o caurina (Northern Spotted Owl ) and S. o lucida (Mexican spotted owl ).
Appearance and propagation
This owl has a length of 43 cm and a wingspan up to 115 cm and weighs around 600 g, the spotted owl is very similar to the Barred Owl but has on the body bottom cross-shaped spots. The spotted owl is also slightly smaller and darker.
The eggs are spotted 5 cm long white in color and slightly. Brooding is done by the female while the male is responsible for food procurement.
Area of distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the spotted owl includes the western half of North America from British Columbia to Mexico. However, its distribution is patchy, because it makes high claims to its habitat. In the northwest, it is found mainly in coniferous forests. Here he prefers areas which still have tree stands that are at least 200 years old. These must offer him as nesting places such as large tree cavities, old abandoned raptor nests, crevices or branch clusters in crotches. The forest must also have a high density of small mammals such as American bush rats or New World flying squirrels or birds have. 98 percent of all districts are in old forests that are still original. In forests where timber is cut or be degraded in a different way, often wanders one of the more assertive Barred, displacing the spotted owl.
The nest may be between 12 and 60 m high.
Protection status
Efforts to make the spotted owl under special protection, began in the 1970s. 1982 examined the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for the first time the status of the spotted owl and decided not to be classified as endangered species This decision was confirmed again in 1987, but initiated in 1988 the first steps for the protection of this species of owl. In 1990, the spotted owl was placed on the early warning of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. In 1991 a ban on logging, although this prohibition was often bypassed. In 1994, the competent Administration one year after inauguration of Bill Clinton Northwest Forest plan that should protect 16 million acres of forest from logging. The timber industry threatened it with the loss of 30,000 jobs and succeeded several times to prevent protective measures in court.
Two subspecies, namely the Northern ( S. o caurina ) and Mexican spotted owl ( S. o lucida ), now fall in the United States of America under the Endangered Species Act. So you are under the special protection of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The nominate is not regarded by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered. The state of California has, however, also the nominate classified as threatened and the United States Forest Service ( USFS ) takes protective measures for these subspecies.
The holdings of the Northern Spotted Owl take particularly strong from the northern edge of its range. In the region to the southwest of the Canadian province of British Columbia stretches from the north of the U.S. state of Washington, the stock of Fleckenkauzen halved almost a year. In British Columbia, there are now fewer than 30 breeding pairs and it is feared that the species dies out here in the next few years.
As before, there is because of all the subspecies of the spotted owl conflict between conservationists, timber industry, cattle farmers, land developers and other stakeholders. In February 2008, a federal judge upheld the decision of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to declare 34,800 square kilometers in the U.S. states of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico for over vital area for the spotted owl. This decision was been challenged by the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association in court, but the judge Susan Bolton upheld the decision.
Since the spotted owl is displaced in some regions of the Barred Owl, gave the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the summer of 2013 announced that more than 3,600 Streifenkauze to be shot in the states of California, Oregon and Washington in the next four years. Then to be observed whether to recover the spotted owl populations in these areas.