Decades of logging and wildfires continue to erode habitat for northern spotted owls, but the spread of barred owls now adds a significant competitive pressure on their populations.

Researchers gathered about 2.1 million hours of sound in 2023 by deploying 1,027 acoustic sampling areas across 38,000 square miles, using four recorders per site.

A new Oregon State University study argues the species is functionally extinct in large portions of its historic range, meaning it can no longer fulfill its ecological role or sustain viable populations there.

Machine-learning analysis found northern spotted owl calls in only 261 of the 1,027 areas, while barred owl calls were detected in 891 areas, with barred owls overwhelmingly outnumbering northern spotted owl recordings.

The study stresses that these findings should not derail conservation efforts but underscore the urgency to adapt strategies to address both habitat loss and interspecies competition.

Conservation proposals discussed include protecting nesting landscapes, continuing habitat protections, and addressing barred owl populations, including debated options like removal or captive breeding and reintroduction programs.

In Washington and along the Oregon Coast, northern spotted owl populations are nearing functional extinction thresholds, with some areas such as the Washington Cascades north of Seattle failing to show detections.

The 1990 Endangered Species Act listing turned the northern spotted owl into a symbol of Pacific Northwest conflicts over old-growth forests and the timber industry.