Barred Owl

It’s considered to be a common owl of the eastern United States.  But there aren’t really all that many of them.  As a carnivore of rodents and birds, the barred owl needs a sizable territory and a suitable habitat for roosting and nesting, such as Pocahontas, with almost 8000 acres and a variety of forest ecosystems.  If you get lucky, you may hear one or a pair calling briefly in the afternoon, as I have along the Bright Hope Trail.  Our expression “that’s a hoot” might come from listening to barred owls, as their vocalization can be quite amusing.  This photo shows the pine stand where one of the owls was hiding, but I was unable to pick out its roosting place in the trees.

--Ben

---