I've been seeing LOTS of Barred Owls in southern Maine in the last couple of months. Initially I was thinking that it must be because of snow cover north of here making it difficult for them to hunt, and driving them further south in search of their preferred foods (mice, moles, voles, shrews, etc.) but there really hasn't been a whole lot of snow this winter. I'm now wondering if there are just lots of Strix varia in Maine, and I happen to be seeing them because I've been out with my goshawk so much. Either way, they're cool birds to see, and awfully endearing with their big black eyes.