Bird of the Month: Barred owl

Barred owls can be found year-round in the wooded areas around Blaine and Birch Bay, such as Birch Bay State Park and Semiahmoo Drive.

They are most active at dusk and at night, but their distinctive call that sounds like, “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” can be heard during the day. Reaching about 20 inches tall, they are identified by their round head and dark eyes, and streaked feathers that resemble bars.

They mate for life, and can be territorial once they establish a nest. Birth order determines chick size. Of the two or three eggs laid each year, the oldest produces the largest hatchling, with the others progressing down in size.