Skip to Main Content
U.S. Forest Service
Caring for the land and serving people

United States Department of Agriculture

Home > Search > Publication Information

  1. Nest sites and reproductive success of the Barred Owls (Strix varia) in Michigan

    Share via EmailShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare on Twitter
    Dislike this pubLike this pub
    Author(s): Sergej Postupalsky; Joseph M. Papp; Lewis Scheller
    Date: 1997
    Source: In: Duncan, James R.; Johnson, David H.; Nicholls, Thomas H., eds. Biology and conservation of owls of the Northern Hemisphere: 2nd International symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-190. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 325-337.
    Publication Series: General Technical Report (GTR)
    Station: North Central Research Station
    PDF: View PDF  (143.08 KB)
    Note: This article is part of a larger document. View the larger document

    Description

    During 1976-1995 we monitored 114 Barred Owl (Strix varia) breeding attempts in northern Michigan. We describe nest sites and report reproductive success for different types of nest sites. Most natural nest sites were tree cavities caused by decay at places where a limb or tree top had broken off. The mean d.b.h. of cavity trees (N = 18) was 48 cm and mean cavity floor area (N = 19) 508 cm². Overall, 75 percent of breeding attempts were successful with a mean brood size (N = 75) of 1.97 young/productive nest. Owls nesting in tree cavities (N = 49) and in boxes (N = 52) showed similar productivities. While 80 percent of nests in cavities and boxes combined were productive with mean brood size (N = 81) of 2.01 young/ productive nest, only 31 percent of breeding attempts in hawk nests and other open sites (N = 13) were successful with mean brood size (N = 3) of 1.0 young/productive nest. Owlets falling from open nests prematurely, before they were able to climb, is seen as the principal cause of poor productivity. The critical importance to Barred Owls of large trees and snags with cavities is emphasized in their management.

    Publication Notes

    • Check the Northern Research Station web site to request a printed copy of this publication.
    • Our on-line publications are scanned and captured using Adobe Acrobat.
    • During the capture process some typographical errors may occur.
    • Please contact Sharon Hobrla, shobrla@fs.fed.us if you notice any errors which make this publication unusable.
    • We recommend that you also print this page and attach it to the printout of the article, to retain the full citation information.
    • This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.

    Citation

    Postupalsky, Sergej; Papp, Joseph M.; Scheller, Lewis. 1997. Nest sites and reproductive success of the Barred Owls (Strix varia) in Michigan. In: Duncan, James R.; Johnson, David H.; Nicholls, Thomas H., eds. Biology and conservation of owls of the Northern Hemisphere: 2nd International symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-190. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 325-337.

    Related Search

    XML: View XML
Show More
Show Fewer
Jump to Top of Page
https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/15528