Nightly Hoots and Wonders

We don't have many owls around here, but there are a few from time to time. One of the first times I recall hearing an owl around here was just after a story in the news that two owl enthusiasts had been calling to one another in their gardens for several years without realising that each was another enthusiast and not, in fact, an owl. I've been unable to find this story in any news archives, so I'm wondering whether or not it was just an urban legend presented as news. I can't find it being discussed as an urban legend either, though, so I'm recording it here just in case anyone else has some information about it.

Cite: Palmer, S.B. (2005). "Nightly Hoots and Wonders", in: What Planet is This?
Archival URI: http://inamidst.com/notes/hoots