Abstract
We located 69 Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) nests in northwestern California. Spotted Owls nested in eight different tree species of which 83% were located in Douglas-firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Sixty percent of the nests were located in broken-top trees, whereas cavity and platform nests each accounted for 20%. Minimum nest tree ages averaged 288 years (range 57-688) with 42% of the trees having minimum ages of > 300 years. Owls nested in forests that were structurally different than forests available to them. These stands were characterized by large (> 90 cm dbh) conifers, a hardwood understory, and a variety of tree sizes. Nest sites appeared to be located in pockets of even older forest containing disfigured trees of advanced age which provided suitable nesting structures.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 324-330 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Condor |
Volume | 101 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Nest sites
- Nesting habitat
- Northern Spotted Owl
- Old-growth conifer forests
- Strix occidentalis caurina