I. Question--What is the current status of the great gray owl within the area of the Northwest Forest Plan, and has the status changed since the Record of Decision?

The panel concluded that relatively little new information was available to determine if the status of the great gray owl had changed within the area of the Northwest Forest Plan since the plan was initiated in 1994; therefore, they agreed that the status had not changed. They remarked that the answer can be determined only with well-designed long-term data, but currently such data does not exist. The panelists remarked, however, that ongoing great gray owl occupancy-area status (hereafter occupancy) surveys were being done in a few locations within the area of the Northwest Forest Plan and were enhancing our knowledge base. Panelists noted that information derived from surveys of known areas occupied by the owl in the Medford and McKenzie Bridge areas was contributing to the scientific understanding of this species in western Oregon and that these efforts should continue. They also observed that this information was critical to making future management decisions, noting that surveys done on Federal lands in the past several years had not been analyzed and summarized from a regional perspective. The panelists also believed that surveys done on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (NF) and the Yosemite National Park, areas outside the Northwest Forest Plan, were providing relevant information about great gray owl populations. They commented that this information was particularly relevant for managing this species within the area of the Northwest Forest Plan.

Related to this question, the expert panel made several pertinent comments that sparked additional discussion, questions, and concerns. The panel identified a number of questions (below) which needed to be addressed to ensure successful plan implementation. They also observed that information from ongoing surveys and new studies will continue to shape conservation strategies for this species through an adaptive-management process.

1. Population-Dispersal Behavior

Are populations intermixing between east and west of the Cascade crest? Are birds from the east side dispersing to the west side seasonally? What is the short- and long-term probability of persistence for great gray owls on the west side in the absence of immigration from elsewhere? Can a conservation strategy for the great gray owl within the area of the Northwest Forest Plan be implemented and maintain viable populations independent of other geographic areas?

2. Limiting factors

Based on inferences drawn from observational data and limited scientific research, the primary limiting factor west of the Cascade crest and north of the Siskiyou Mountains seems to be foraging habitat. Can populations in this area be maintained or enhanced primarily by creating or maintaining suitable foraging habitat over time from a landscape perspective? In the southern Oregon Cascade Range, including the Siskiyou Mountains, and on the east slope of the Cascade crest, what are the limiting factors associated with nest site availability?