An invasive owl species is occupying the same ancient forests that northern spotted owls rely on for survival, according to a new study that used GPS tracking to reveal the extent of the ecological conflict.
Researchers found that barred owls consistently selected the tallest, oldest and most structurally complex forests in northwestern California—habitats with large trees, multilayered canopies, dense vegetation and abundant nesting cavities. These are also the forests most important to the threatened northern spotted owl for nesting and roosting.
