Back in 1917 taxidermist Thomas Earl of Columbus wrote: "“A curious 
flight of Barn Owls was noted in 1917 just previous to the cold winter 
of 1917-1918. Two or three times a day for several weeks during the 
November hunting season Barn Owls were brought in for mounting.  Other 
taxidermists had the same experience and I believe by a conservative 
estimate 200 Barn Owls were killed in Central Ohio by hunters, who 
encountered them everywhere.” (Bent 1938:150).
        This was back almost a century ago, when observers were less numerous 
and roads were fewer and more primitive. And the tally was of birds 
killed and brought to taxidermists, not just birds seen. Nowadays, we 
celebrate spotting a handful of these owls during any given year.
Worth pondering,
Bill Whan

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