The U.S. Geological Survey agency on Thursday, April 16 released the results of a three-year study on the growth of barred owls populations in the coastal forests of western Oregon, and the effects the arrival of barred owls, which are most commonly found on the East Coast, are having on endemic spotted owl populations.

The closing of much federal forest land to logging to protect the spotted owl caused deep cutbacks in logging activities on the West End and other areas of Washington state when the bird was placed on the federal endangered species list in 1990.