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Striped Owl is a seldom-encountered owl of open habitat , mostly on Panama's
Pacific slope. Ridgely predicted that clearing of forests would lead to range expansion
in this species, but it is unclear how hospitable agricultural areas may prove, so I'd say the jury is still out.
Carlos Bethancourt found a Striped Owl a few years ago near Summit Ponds; when he reported the sighting to the local records' committee, he was told that,
"Striped Owls used to be there, but aren't anymore." One would hope that the powers-that-be have since developed some respect for Carlos' considerable identification
skills. Alexis Sanchez found one in the same area in October of 2006, so the possibility exists that a breeding population lingers somewhere nearby.
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