| I studied barred owl (Strix varia) habitat selection across multiple spatial scales in forest patches in an agricultural landscape in north-central Alberta. The owls selected for microsites with larger diameter trees, more white spruce, more large snags and more open understories. Within their territory, they selected for mixedwood stands that were large, had less edge, were closer to old-growth forest and farther from open fields. I used the resource selection function derived from within-territory data to explain territory selection from available habitat on the landscape and patterns of pair occupancy of territories over three years. The median value of preferred habitat in territories selected by barred owls (as defined by the resource selection function) was 39%. Priority areas for barred owl habitat management should exceed the average territory size of a barred owl (562 ha) and contain at least 39% preferred habitat. |
