In , six Burrowing Owl pairs were reintroduced to the southern interior of British Columbia. As of , an estimated five to ten pairs of Burrowing Owls were living in BC. In , the Operation Burrowing Owl newsletter was translated into Spanish for Mexican distribution in the hope that protection will be offered to the birds in their wintering areas.
In , a decision was made by the federal government to slowly phase out some of the uses of the insecticide Carbofuran. The end goal of the plan is to increase Burrowing Owl populations in Canada to levels where they become self-sustaining. The Baird's Sparrow song is a series of notes followed by a trill. The Black-footed Ferret is the only ferret species that is indigenous to North America. Currently, reintroduction programs are in Discover Nature Endangered Species.
Back to Endangered Species. Instead, this bird does exactly what its common name suggests; it burrows! This owl nests underground, in abandoned burrows of small mammals like badgers, prairie dogs, skunks, marmots, and other animals, like tortoises. If there are no preexisting burrows around for nesting, Burrowing Owls may excavate their own nest burrows, although some scientists believe there is a correlation with nest failures and newly dug burrows.
Burrowing Owls often create mounds around the entrance to their dens, if there is not a preexisting one. This may be their way of keeping the den from flooding. The underground nest of a Burrowing Owl moderates temperatures and keeps the owls from becoming dehydrated on hot days. Dens can become quite stuffy, however, due to a lack of airflow. This is one reason scientists believe Burrowing Owls are more resistant to higher concentrations of carbon dioxide than other owls.
Such resistance would allow them to function normally in a stuffy den, where fresh, oxygenated air is not abundant. These dens, despite having a slight shortage of fresh air, are quite cozy for the owls! The female owl will often line the nest and burrow with dried livestock manure.
This burrow is taken! Sadly, these owls have also been known to line nests with human trash; cigarette butts, tin foil, shredded paper, plastics, and other litter has been discovered in Burrowing Owl dens. Young Burrowing Owls are quite comical and playful, making them ideal subjects for photographers. Juvenile Burrowing Owls can be differentiated from adults of the species by their cream or tan-colored downy feathers. The underdeveloped plumage gives them a plump appearance and makes them look like tottering fluffballs.
Indeed, Burrowing Owl chicks seem to be easily entertained and can be seen pouncing on eachother or prey. Some scientists believe this is a form of play, but more importantly, a way to develop hunting skills.
While Burrowing Owl chicks are developing their hunting and defense skills, they are somewhat helpless in the burrow. However, young Burrowing Owls have developed a tactic to ward off potential predators. To scare off badgers, humans, and any other threats, the chicks actually mimic the sound of a rattlesnake! This unique defense call has been recorded by scientists and is now stored in the famous Macaulay Library.
Contrary to popular belief, these owls do not share dens with rattlesnakes. Burrowing Owls have been known to nest in many areas, but nearly all nest sites for the species are in grassland areas. Because the species has been experiencing steady declines, some have begun installing artificial burrows in attempt to create new nest sites. Note that many of these are also common homes for small ground mammals. Over 15 species of fleas have been found to live in Burrowing Owl dens.
Also, even though badgers often leave their nests as perfect nest sites for Burrowing Owls, Badgers are known to be predators of the species. As a result, Burrowing Owls can be found in colonies as well. They live in deserts, plains and fields of western North America, and drier regions of Central and South America.
Burrowing owls spend their winters in the southwestern U. A burrowing owl's diets includes small birds, reptiles, fish, rodents and large insects. They may hover above the ground in search of prey or hunt from a perch. They might also catch insects in flight. Burrowing owls often live in permanent pair bonds and may form colonies of several pairs nesting in the same area.
Courtship begins in April. Pairs can be observed perching together, rubbing heads and cooing. They nest underground, usually in abandoned burrows dug by another animal, such as prairie dogs.
Although, on occasion, they will dig their own burrow. Males line the nest with grasses, roots and dung; the odor from the dung helps protect the eggs from predators. Females lay five to 9 round white eggs, and parents take turns incubating the eggs for about four weeks before they hatch. Both parents care for the owlets, which fledge after about 40 days. While still in the nest, the owlets' distress cry mimics the sound of a rattlesnake and scares off predators.
Unlike most other owls, burrowing owls are diurnal, or most active during the day. They are very energetic, bobbing up and down when they perch.
They are the only small owl species to perch on the ground and are so terrestrial that when disturbed, they will often run or flatten themselves against the ground, rather than fly away.
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