Report Owls

Sun., May 28, 2000

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com (509) 459-5508

Birdwatching

Concerned birders are asking people to report sightings of burrowing owls and barn owls, species that are losing their niches in the West.

The Inland Empire Owl Club is participating in a program with state and federal agencies to restore burrowing owl nesting habitat to Eastern Washington by installing artificial burrows.

Burrowing owls cannot dig into the ground. They have depended on burrows excavated by creatures such as ground squirrels.

Poisoning of ground squirrels and loss of good habitat to farming and urban growth has caused burrowing owls to decline.

“Research has demonstrated that these owls will inhabit artificial burrows, especially in areas which owls currently occupy,” said Suzanne Hempleman, owl club spokeswoman.

Report burrowing owl sightings to Hempleman at 326-0224 or Alan McCoy at 448-3123.

A similar program for improving barn owl nesting area requests any sightings to be reported to Ron Dexter at 468-2555.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Report Owls

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

From top of the world to depths of despair | Then & Now

'They're Idaho horns': The cowboys, hunters and conservationists behind Lewiston's bighorn collection

Swimming and our ancestral protozoa | Ammi Midstokke