The rugged and spectacular mountains of the North Cascades (3,286m) span the border between British Columbia (Canada) and the State of Washington in the USA. Up to 6 meters of precipitation fall every year on the western slope, delivered by the great Pacific Ocean. Below the mineral ridges, the alpine landscapes and the massive glaciers, stands the temperate rainforest. This enchanted forest, primeval, mossy, ferny and once realm of countless giants is the set of this story, all about owls.

The photographs were taken in parallel to a research project initiated and directed by Hamer Environmental and aiming at documenting the change in density of Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis) and Barred Owls (Strix varia, photo above) around Baker Lake, 20 years after the first census in this area. The dramatic decline and disappearance of the Spotted Owl all over North America contrast with the formidable expansion of the Barred Owl, a more aggressive and generalist species who now occupies almost the entire range of its spotted relative.

My participation to this research project ran from May to August 2008.