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In Canada, the Western Screech-Owl kennicottii subspecies occurs only in coastal forests of British Columbia. Local Christmas Bird Count data from within its Canadian range indicate a large decline in the population in the 1990s (National Audubon Society 2010); circumstantial evidence suggests predation by the newly-arrived Barred Owl may be the cause of that decline (Elliott 2006). This subspecies was assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada as Special Concern in 2002 (COSEWIC 2002) but was re-assessed as Threatened in 2012 (COSEWIC) based on declines in the southern part of its range and probable declines in the northern part. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
The Western Screech-Owl kennicottii subspecies is found in low elevation forests on the British Columbia coast, especially riparian woodlands, although it seems less tied to that habitat type than the macfarlanei subspecies of the British Columbia interior (COSEWIC 2002). The primary cause of its decline on the southern British Columbia coast is thought to be predation by Barred Owls, which arrived in the region in the late 1970s and were common by the 1990s (Elliott 2006). The Western Screech-Owl may also be particularly prone to collisions with vehicles, especially when foraging for earthworms during wet weather (Cannings and Angell 2001; see also Bishop and Brogan 2013 and Machtans et al. 2013). It is tolerant of human activity and commonly found (at least formerly) in suburban parks; it also readily uses nest boxes for roosting and nesting (Cannings and Angell 2001). For information on the legal status of this species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and to view available recovery documents, see the SARA Registry.
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.