Inventory of Western Screech-Owl in the Thompson Region

Inventory of Western Screech-Owl

in the Thompson Region

by

Greg Ferguson and Francis Iredale

British Columbia Conservation Corps

Submitted to the

British Columbia Conservation Foundation and

British Columbia Ministry of Environment

September 2007

ii

ABSTRACT

Two hundred and thirty one acoustic call-playback occupancy surveys were conducted over a 24

day period during the summer of 2007 to document the occurrence and distribution of the

macfarlanei subspecies of Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii) in the Thompson

Region of British Columbia (B.C.).

Three adult Western Screech-Owls were detected during surveys in 2007. Two of these

detections were of new owls found along the Coldwater River and Criss Creek and one was a re-

detection of an owl found along the upper Deadman River in 2006. Of three previous owl

detections made in the Thompson Region during 2006 and the spring of 2007, none were re-

detected during surveys. Possible reasons for the lack of re-detection of these Western Screech-

Owls may have been due to the owls moving to another area outside the radius of our calling

stations or a lack of response to call-playbacks during the time of survey. Four additional owl

species were heard or seen during surveys. During surveys the authors noted two riparian areas

containing deciduous forest that had been burned.

The authors recommend that more detailed surveys be carried out in the upper Deadman River

to assess the breeding status of the Western Screech-Owl detected in this area four times over a

two year period. Additionally, areas containing Western Screech-Owls detected in 2006 should

be resurveyed more than once during the breeding season to greater assess their status.

Given a detection rate of only 1.3% was achieved during call-playback surveys for the

macfarlanei subspecies of Western Screech-Owl in 2007, this further lends evidence to the

rarity of this species in the Thompson Region.

iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank the B.C. Ministry of Environment, B.C. Conservation Foundation and B.C.

Conservation Corps program for providing logistical and supervisory support for this project.

Many thanks to Nigel Jackett for happily assisting with surveys during the latter portion of the

season and with reviewing earlier drafts. Special thanks to John Surgenor, Wildlife Biologist

with the B.C. Ministry of Environment, for his time and assistance in planning field work.

Funding for this project was provided by the B.C. Ministry of Environment through the B.C.

Conservation Corps program.

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION .……….……………………………………………………………. 1

2 PROJECT AND STUDY AREA …………….………………………………………… 2

3 METHODS ...…………………………………………………………………………… 3

4 RESULTS ………………………………………………………………………………. 4

4.1 Survey Effort ……………………………………....……………………………… 4

4.2 New Detections and Resightings of Western Screech-Owls …………………….. 5

4.3 Other Owl Species Detections and Observations …………………………………. 8

5 DISCUSSION …………………………………………………………………………... 8

6 RECOMMENDATIONS ……………………………………………………………….. 9

7 LITERATURE CITED .………………………………………………………………… 10

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Approximate distribution of Western Screech-Owl macfarlanei subspecies

in Canada ……………………………………………………………………... 2

Figure 2. Overview of Thompson Region, B.C. Ministry of Environment …………….. 3

Figure 3. Locations of 2007 call-playback survey stations in the Thompson Region,

B.C. …………………………………………………..……………………….. 5

Figure 4. Locations of 2007 Western Screech-Owl detections in the Thompson

Region, B.C. …….………………………………………………..................... 6

Figure 5. Habitat along lower Criss Creek where Western Screech-Owl detection

was made ……………………………………………………………………... 7

Figure 6. Habitat along upper Coldwater River where Western Screech-Owl detection

was made ……………………………………………………………………... 7

Figure 7. Burned deciduous riparian forest habitat along Highway 99 ……………….... 8

LIST OF APPENDICIES

Appendix 1. Acoustic call-playback owl survey data form ………………………..……….. 11

Appendix 2. Acoustic call-playback owl detection data form ………………...……………. 12

Appendix 3. Western Screech-Owl detections in the Thompson Region, B.C. …………….. 13

Appendix 4. Detection of other owl species in the Thompson Region, B.C. ……………….. 13

1

1 INTRODUCTION

The macfarlanei subspecies of Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii) is a rare to

uncommon local resident in the central-southern interior of British Columbia (B.C.) (Campbell

et al. 1990) (Figure 1). This subspecies occurs within the Bunchgrass, Ponderosa Pine, Interior

Douglas-fir and Interior Cedar-Hemlock biogeoclimatic zones (B.C. Conservation Data Centre

2007). In the interior, most birds are found in deciduous woodlands along lakeshores and

streams (Campbell et al. 1990). The macfarlanei subspecies is designated as Endangered in

Canada by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC 2002), is

on the provincial Red list in B.C. (Government of B.C. 2007a) and is listed in the Province’s

Identified Wildlife Management Strategy (IWMS) under the Forest and Range Practices Act as

of May 2004 (B.C. Conservation Data Centre 2007).

A threat to the macfarlanei subspecies in the interior of B.C. is the loss of preferred habitat, such

as low elevation deciduous forests and riparian areas, through urban development and

agriculture demands (Cannings et al. 1987). An increase in the loss of old, large diameter trees

used for nesting, as a result of single tree felling or land clearing for development and forestry is

also a potential threat (COSEWIC 2002).

Given the status and lack of information on the distribution and abundance of Western Screech-

Owls in the Thompson Region of B.C., the B.C. Ministry of Environment (MOE) hired Francis

Iredale (B.Sc.) and Greg Ferguson (B.Sc.) as B.C. Conservation Corps (BCCC) employees in

2007 to conduct acoustic call-playback occupancy surveys for Western Screech-Owl in selected

habitats within the Thompson Region. The goals of this project were to further determine the

distribution of the Western Screech-Owl in the Thompson Region through locating new

occurrences and to re-assess the occupancy of habitat where previous detections have been

made for monitoring purposes. This was accomplished through the performance of acoustic call-

playback occupancy surveys in areas of suitable habitat that were not surveyed in 2006 by

BCCC employees, by re-checking detections of Western Screech-Owls made in 2006 and

through the checking of new incidental detections. New Western Screech-Owl occurrences in

the Thompson Region will be submitted to the MOE as candidate Wildlife Habitat Areas for

inclusion under the IWMS.

2

Figure 1. Approximate distribution of Western Screech-Owl macfarlanei subspecies in Canada

(Canadian Wildlife Service 2004).

2 PROJECT AND STUDY AREA

In its second field season, this project is part of a larger effort to assess the occurrence and

distribution of Western Screech-Owl in B.C. In addition to works being conducted in the

Thompson Region, BCCC employees and MOE staff are also documenting the occurrence and

distribution of Western Screech-Owl in the Okanagan Region in 2007.

Surveying for Western Screech-Owl in 2007 was conducted in the Thompson Region, B.C.

(Figure 2). This region is situated within the southern interior of B.C. and encompasses suitable

habitat for Western Screech-Owl, such as deciduous forests and riparian areas composed of

mature black cottonwood for nesting, dense shrubs for foraging and cover, and a surrounding

soft edge of native grassland or coniferous forest. The majority of surveys were conducted in

valley bottoms along major or minor rivers and streams that contained mature deciduous forest

with moderate to abundant shrub cover.

3

Figure 2. Overview of Thompson Region, B.C. Ministry of Environment (Government of B.C.

2007b).

3 METHODS

A strategic sampling design using optimal habitat stratification was used in 2007 to survey for

Western Screech-Owl in the Thompson Region. A habitat suitability map delineating the

presence of mature trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) and black cottonwood (Populus

balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa) within the Thompson Region, in addition to survey stations from

2006, was produced using Arcview 9.0 prior to the commencement of field work (Iredale 2007).

Locations of previous Western Screech-Owl detections were noted for re-checking and gaps in

suitable habitat not surveyed in 2006 were identified and mapped at a larger scale to guide

survey efforts.

Surveys were started after the end of March, as Western Screech-Owls in the interior are known

to begin hooting in early March (Campbell et al. 1990). Timing of surveys was sporadic

throughout the summer, due to inventory commitments for other species at risk.

A coarse filter approach was used to select broad areas of suitable Western Screech-Owl habitat

for targeting survey efforts. Areas were selected based on habitat suitability model results, gaps

in survey efforts during 2006 and requirements to re-assess a sub-sample of former detections.

Once these areas were selected, a finer filter approach was used to select specific sampling

stations. This involved driving through these broader areas and establishing call-playback

4

stations at sites where nesting, foraging and cover habitat was deemed most suitable for Western

Screech-Owl occurrence. Features used to assess the suitability of sites for call-playback

stations included the presence and abundance of mature black cottonwood or other mature

deciduous trees, the density of shrubs, the presence of a soft edge and water, and the elevation of

the site. Sites at lower elevations with large amounts of continuous mature deciduous forest,

abundant shrubs, a surrounding soft edge and water were deemed optimal for establishing

stations.

Acoustic call-playback occupancy surveys were used to detect Western Screech-Owls following

protocols developed for the Resources Information Standards Committee of B.C. (Hausleitner

2006). A pre-recorded male Western Screech-Owl territorial call was broadcast at each station

using a compact disk player and a 15 watt Nexxtech megaphone. Calls were broadcast for a 1

minute duration followed by 4 minutes of listening for responding owls. A total of three, 1

minute calls were conducted at each station for a total survey effort of 15 minutes. If an owl was

detected during the survey, calling was stopped and data was collected. All surveys were

conducted after sunset and before sunrise, except when an attempt was made during the day to

obtain a more precise location of a previously detected owl. No spontaneous calling survey was

conducted prior to call-playback surveys.

Calling stations were placed at distances <500 m for areas where habitat was continuous and

deemed suitable for the occurrence of Western Screech-Owl. In areas where suitable habitat was

not continuous, stations were placed >500 m apart at sites deemed to contain suitable habitat by

surveyors.

Two data forms were used to record field observations during call-playback surveys: an owl

survey and owl detection form (Appendix 1 and 2). If no owl was detected during a call-

playback survey a “null detection” was recorded. A Garmin GPSmap 60CX was used to obtain

Universal Trans Mercator co-ordinates (i.e., Easting and Northing) for call-playback stations

and to project the location of detected owls via an approximated bearing and distance to their

first initial calling location. Data from field forms was entered using Microsoft Excel into an

owl call-playback and nest survey data template obtained through the B.C. Ministry of

Environment’s Wildlife Species Inventory program (B.C. Ministry of Environment 2006). All

data was submitted to John Surgenor, B.C. Ministry of Environment Regional Species at Risk

Biologist, and the B.C. Species Inventory Data System.

4 RESULTS

4.1 Survey Effort

A total of 24 nights of surveys were conducted in 2007 on the following dates: 13 and 18 April;

5 - 7 and 17 - 20 May; 3 June; 27 - 31 July; 1 and 8 August; and 4 - 10 September. The total

number of call-playback surveys conducted for Western Screech-Owl was 231. Three Western

Screech-Owls were detected during these surveys resulting in a detection rate of 1.3%. Surveys

targeted suitable habitat over a wide geographical area within the Thompson Region (Figure 3).

All stations were surveyed for a duration of 15 minutes, except for two, which were surveyed

for 20 and 30 minutes in an attempt to re-detect a recently detected Western Screech-Owl. Total

survey time for 2007 was 3,485 minutes.

5

Figure 3. Locations of 2007 call-playback survey stations in the Thompson Region, B.C.

(Stations indicated by grey squares) (Government of B.C. 2007b).

4.2 New Detections and Resightings of Western Screech-Owls

A total of two new Western Screech-Owl detections were made in 2007 (Figure 4 and Appendix

3).

A new Western Screech-Owl was acoustically detected for a 1 minute period during the evening

of 28 July along the lower portion of Criss Creek (Figure 5). On 29 July, two attempts were

made to redetect and pinpoint this owl’s location, one during the day and one at night, but no

response was obtained. An additional call-playback survey was conducted in the area on 8

August, but no owls were detected.

A new Western Screech-Owl was acoustically detected at two adjacent call-playback survey

stations on 4 September along the upper Coldwater River (Figure 6). At both stations, the owl

moved in from over 150 meters away to as close as 40 meters. The owl was detected on two

properties: 'The Ranch' at 345 Coldwater Road and 249 Coldwater Road. A daytime site visit on

the 22 September suggests the owl may reside within a core patch of mixed coniferous and

deciduous trees, with black cottonwood representing the leading tree species. This riparian

habitat occurs within the Ponderosa Pine very, dry hot variant 2 subzone and resembles the Red

listed black cottonwood and water birch (Betula occidentalis) ecological community (B.C.

6

Conservation Date Centre 2003). Although a call-playback survey was conducted at the site

(i.e., Z10 656759 5548247, NAD 83), no owls were detected.

Of the surveys conducted to re-detect three Western Screech-Owls found in 2006 and one found

in the spring of 2007, only one re-detection was made in 2007.

A Western Screech-Owl originally detected along the upper Deadman River on 5 June 2006 was

re-detected by spontaneous calling on 3 June, re-detected visually on 4 June and re-detected

acoustically on 8 August (Appendix 3).

A single call-playback survey was conducted along the lower Nicola River (i.e., Dot Ranch

Cutoff Road) on 18 April to re-detect a Western Screech-Owl heard in the area during mid May

and June of 2006. However, no detection of the owl was made. An additional six call-playback

surveys were conducted in the area on 5 September, but no owls were detected.

Six call-playback surveys were conducted along the Deadman-Cache Creek Road (i.e., Back

Valley area) on the night of 31 July to re-detect a Western Screech-Owl heard on 20 June 2006,

but no Western Screech-Owls were detected.

Four call-playback surveys were conducted along the lower reaches of Tranquille Creek on 4

April to re-detect a Western Screech-Owl heard and seen by local naturalists in the area during

the spring of 2007. However, no detection of the owl was made.

Figure 4. Locations of 2007 Western Screech-Owl detections in the Thompson Region, B.C.

(Detections indicated by black squares) (Government of B.C. 2007b).

7

Figure 5. Habitat along lower Criss Creek where Western Screech-Owl detection was made.

Figure 6. Habitat along upper Coldwater River where Western Screech-Owl detection was

made.

8

4.3 Other Owl Species Detections and Observations

During call-playback surveys for Western Screech-Owl the following owl species were

detected: Great Horned Owl (n = 15), Northern Pygmy Owl (n = 1), Northern Saw-whet Owl (n

= 1) and an unknown owl species (n = 1) (Appendix 4). In addition to these detections, 5 Great

Horned Owls were visually detected while driving between call-playback stations along

Douglas Lake Road on 9 September. One Barred and Northern Pygmy Owl were also visually

detected in the early evening along Monte Creek on 10 September.

Two areas of burned, deciduous riparian forest habitat were noted during surveys. The first area

was believed to be on the Upper Hat Creek Indian Reserve along Highway 99 and the second

site was in the lower Nicola Valley along Highway 8 near Dot Ranch (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Burned deciduous riparian forest habitat within the Lower Nicola Valley.

5 DISCUSSION

Given three separate detections were made of a Western Screech-Owl along the upper Deadman

River in 2007 and it was first detected in June of 2006, it is presumed that this is a resident owl

to the area. However, the breeding status of this owl is still undetermined, as a female owl and

juveniles have never been detected at the site. This area is currently protected by a 53 hectare

Wildlife Habitat Area, which was established on 8 May 2007.

Given a detection rate of only 1.3% was achieved during call-playback surveys for Western

Screech-Owl in 2007, this further lends evidence to the rarity of this species in the Thompson

Region. It also highlights the northern range of this subspecies in B.C.

9

Possible reasons for the lack of re-detections of Western Screech-Owls found in 2006 along the

Deadman-Cache Creek Road and Dot Ranch Cutoff Road, in addition to the owl detected once

along lower Criss Creek in 2007, may have been the result of the owls moving to another area

outside the radius of our calling stations or a lack of response to call-playbacks during the time

of survey. It should be noted that the riparian area along the lower sections of Criss Creek was

narrow and had limited mature deciduous forest and shrub cover, which is preferred habitat for

the Western Screech-Owl (Rodriguez-Estrella and Careaga 2003).

6 RECOMMENDATIONS

The authors recommend that more detailed surveys be carried out in the upper Deadman River

to assess the breeding status of the Western Screech-Owl that has been detected in the area four

times over a two year period. This could involve visual searches for the following features:

additional owls in the area to determine pair status; owl sign, such as whitewash, pellets, feathers

and prey remains; nesting sites; and nestlings or fledglings to determine breeding and

productivity.

The authors recommend that Western Screech-Owls detected along lower Criss Creek, upper

Coldwater River and detections from 2006, such as those along Deadman-Cache Creek Road

and Dot Ranch Cutoff Road, be resurveyed at different times during the breeding season (e.g.,

once every month) to greater assess the presence/not detected status of owls in these areas. This

is important, given the rarity of this species in the region, the possibility of detecting offspring

from previous years that may have established territories in the surrounding area and the more

efficient use of time obtained by targeting previously known areas of occurrence. A caveat to

this recommendation is that owls previously detected may be temporary residents of the area

and therefore may move unknown distances beyond the last known detection site. To help

account for this, it is recommended that a series of call-playback stations be conducted around

or along the corridor of the last known detection site for the owl.

The authors recommend incorporating stewardship activities as a tool to increase public

awareness regarding the links between Western Screech-Owls and riparian forests.

Although situated on private property, the Coldwater detection should be assessed by the MOE

for the possibility of capturing suitable habitat on Crown Land as an established Wildlife

Habitat Area under the IWMS. The contacted landowner, John R.Boys, was receptive to the

conservation of habitat for wildlife on their property, thus there may exist the possibility of

protecting habitat in this area through other means (e.g., conservation covenant). A follow up

survey in the spring of 2008 is recommended to reassess the status of this site for Western

Screech-Owls.

10

7 LITERATURE CITED

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2003. [Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa / Betula

occidentalis Black cottonwood / water birch]. Plant community account summary

[C1B3DPBBO1]. B.C. Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Victoria, B.C. 1pp.

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2007. Species summary: Megascops kennicottii macfarlanei.

B.C. Ministry of Environment. Available: http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/apps/eswp/

(Accessed 17 September 2007).

B.C. Ministry of Environment. 2006. Wildlife species inventory program. Available:

http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/wildlife/wsi/index.htm (Accessed 17 September 2007).

Campbell, R.W., N.K. Dawe, I. McTaggart-Cowan, J.M. Cooper, G.W. Kaiser and M.C.E.

McNall. 1990. The birds of British Columbia. Vol. II: Nonpasserines. Diurnal birds of

prey through woodpeckers. Royal B.C. Museum, Victoria, B.C., and Canadian Wildlife

Service, Delta, B.C.

Canadian Wildlife Service. 2004. Species account for the Western Screech-Owl macfarlanei

subspecies. Available: http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca (Accessed 18 September 2007).

Cannings, R.A., R.J. Cannings and S.G. Cannings. 1987. Birds of the Okanagan valley, British

Columbia. Royal B.C. Museum, Victoria, B.C. 420pp.

COSEWIC. 2002. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Western Screech-Owl

otus kennicottii in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

Ottawa. 31pp.

Government of B.C. 2007a. B.C. species and ecosystems explorer. B.C. Ministry of

Environment. Available: http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/apps/eswp/ (Accessed 17 September

2007).

Government of B.C. 2007b. iMapBC. Integrated Land Management Bureau. Available:

http://ilmbwww.gov.bc.ca/ (Accessed 17 September 2007).

Hausleitner, D. 2006. Inventory methods for owl surveys. Standards for Components of B.C.'s

Biodiversity No. 42. Ecosystems Branch of the B.C. Ministry of Environment for the

Resources Information Standards Committee.

Iredale, F. 2007. Western Screech-Owl habitat suitability model for the Thompson Region.

Unpublished map. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Kamloops, B.C.

Rodriguez-Estrella, R. and A.P. Careaga. 2003. The Western Screech-Owl and habitat alteration

in Baja California: a gradient from urban and rural landcapes to natural habitat. Canadian

Journal of Zoology (81): 916-922.

11

Appen

dix

1:

Aco

ust

ic c

all-

pla

yb

ack o

wl

surv

ey d

ata

form

.

Ow

l S

urv

ey F

orm

(_________________)

Su

rvey

(ro

ute

) N

am

e ____________________________________ O

bse

rver

(s)_

_________________________ D

ay _

__ M

on

th _

__ Y

ear_

_____

Wea

ther

Con

dit

ion

s at

Sta

rt o

f S

urv

ey:

S

tart

Tim

e___________ T

ime

Of

Su

nse

t____________ T

OT

AL

SU

RV

EY

MIN

UT

ES

_________

Tem

p._

___

oC

W

ind (

circ

le o

ne)

0 1 2 3 4 5 C

loud C

over

(ci

rcle

one)

Cle

ar <

50%

>

50%

100%

Pre

cip

itati

on:

None

Lig

ht

Rai

n M

od. R

ain H

eavy R

ain

Sta

tion

#

Z

East

ing

Nort

hin

g

Sta

rt

Tim

e E

nd

Tim

e S

ps

Cod

e F

orm

#

Sta

tion

Com

men

ts

Wea

ther

Con

dit

ion

s at

EN

D o

f S

urv

ey:

E

nd T

ime_

________

Tem

p._

___

oC

W

ind (

circ

le o

ne)

0 1 2 3 4 5 C

loud C

over

(ci

rcle

one)

Cle

ar <

50%

>

50%

100%

Pre

cip

itati

on:

None

Lig

ht

Rai

n M

od. R

ain H

eavy R

ain

12

Appen

dix

2:

Aco

ust

ic c

all-

pla

yb

ack o

wl

det

ecti

on d

ata

form

.

O

wl

Det

ecti

on

Form

(_____________________)

FO

RM

#:

_____

Su

rvey

(R

ou

te)

Nam

e ______________________________ O

bse

rver

(s)

_________________________________

Day _

__ M

on

th _

___ Y

ear_

_________ S

tart

Tim

e: _

___________ S

un

set

At:

________

Sta

tion

#

Sp

ecie

s

Cod

e

Call

Tim

e

Res

pon

se

Tim

e

Call

Du

rati

on

Call

Typ

e

Vis

ual/

Aco

ust

ic

Dir

ecti

on

of

Call

Dis

tan

ce t

o

Ow

l

Pro

ject

ed

UT

M

AC

/

Sex

Com

men

ts /

Ow

l

Movem

ent

Data

Def

init

ion

s:

Cal

l T

ime:

tim

e of

firs

t det

ecte

d r

esponse

(m

ilit

ary t

ime)

.

Res

ponse

Tim

e: t

ime

(min

ute

s) e

lapse

d b

etw

een s

tati

on s

tart

tim

e (f

irst

cal

l) a

nd f

irst

det

ecte

d r

esponse

fro

m o

wl.

Cal

l D

ura

tion:

Dura

tion (

min

ute

s) o

f ow

l voca

liza

tion.

Cal

l T

ype:

Iden

tify

the

voca

liza

tions

of

the

resp

ondin

g o

wl

(Ter

rito

ry, R

ack C

all,

Co

-wee

p, C

ooin

g, 4-n

ote

, S

erie

s ca

ll, B

arkin

g C

all,

Copula

tion C

all)

Vis

ual

/Aco

ust

ic:

Iden

tify

if

the

ow

l w

as a

ctual

ly s

een o

r ju

st h

eard

.

Dir

ecti

on o

f C

all:

Pro

vid

e th

e bea

ring (

in d

egre

es)

of

the

dir

ecti

on o

f th

e re

spondin

g o

wl,

rel

ativ

e to

the

surv

ey s

tati

on.

Dis

tance

to O

wl:

Pro

vid

e th

e es

tim

ated

dis

tance

(in

met

ers)

fro

m t

he

stat

ion t

o t

he

call

ing o

wl.

Pro

ject

ed U

TM

: P

rovid

e th

e N

AD

83 U

TM

(Z

/E/N

) fo

r th

e pro

ject

ed c

oord

inat

e of

the

ow

ls e

stim

ated

loca

tion (

bas

ed o

n d

ista

nce

and b

eari

ng)

Age

Cla

ss /

Sex

: Id

enti

fy t

he

ow

l (b

ased

on c

all

type)

as

adult

or

juven

ile

and i

den

tify

sex

(w

hen

cer

tain

) as

mal

e or

fem

ale.

Ow

l M

ovem

ents

: re

cord

com

men

ts o

n t

he

ow

ls m

ovem

ents

, re

lati

ve

to t

he

stat

ion, fo

r th

e dura

tion o

f th

e ow

ls r

esponse

act

ivit

y.

13

Appendix 3. Western Screech-Owl detections in the Thompson Region, B.C.

Area

Date (yy-mm-dd)

Count

Sex

Projected UTM (NAD 83)

Upper Deadman River

2007-06-03

1

Male

Z10 645662 5652094

Criss Creek 2007-07-28 1 Male Z10 644076 5639900

Upper Deadman River 2007-08-08 1 Male Z10 645682 5651987

Coldwater River 2007-09-04 1 Male Z10 656972 5548250

Appendix 4: Detection of other owl species in the Thompson Region, B.C.

Area

Date (yy-mm-dd)

Species

Count

Sex

Projected UTM (NAD 83)

Hat Creek

2007-05-05

B-GHOW

1

UNK

Z10 608402 5611516

Hat Creek 2007-05-06 B-GHOW 1 Male Z10 599823 5630115

Monte Creek FSR 2007-05-20 B-NPOW 1 Male Z11 295779 5595501

Upper Deadman River 2007-07-09 UNK 1 UNK NA

Battle Creek 2007-07-09 B-NSWO 1 Male Z10 632056 5636143

Back Valley 2007-07-31 B-GHOW 1 Male Z10 624712 5633680

Back Valley 2007-07-31 B-GHOW 1 Male Z10 625040 5633791

Coldwater River 2007-09-04 B-GHOW 1 UNK Z10 648859 5539634

Coldwater River 2007-09-04 B-GHOW 1 UNK Z10 651179 5540055

Skuhun FSR 2007-09-06 B-GHOW 1 UNK Z10 640780 5576257



Mill Creek 2007-09-07 B-GHOW 1 UNK Z10 668515 5565023

Quilchena Creek 2007-09-08 B-GHOW 1 UNK Z10 678466 5556502

Quilchena Creek 2007-09-08 B-GHOW 1 UNK Z10 679017 5556771

Douglas Lake Road 2007-09-09 B-GHOW 1 UNK Z10 704307 5561068



Inventory of Western Screech-Owl in the Thompson Region

Documents

Transcript of Inventory of Western Screech-Owl in the Thompson Region