Most people think of birds as primarily occupying airspace, building their shelters and nurseries in the treetops high above our heads, but there must be an exception to every rule in order for nature to really keep us on our toes. A fine exception to this rule is the burrowing owl.
As its name suggests, the burrowing owl has no interest in carefully constructing a nest in the whistling branches of the tallest tree. Rather, it takes advantage of burrows that are left behind from other creatures in grasslands, deserts, and other open, dry areas with low vegetation. Man-made structures that provide the necessary components of a natural burrow — shallow, underground, and easily accessible from the surface — have also been known to play host to burrowing owls, and at times, these birds will even take shelter in an airfield, golf course, or agricultural land. Failing to find a suitable burrow will result in the excavation of one by an owl of this species.
Unlike many other species of owls, the burrowing owl is alert and highly active throughout the day, keeping vigil on its burrow and any eggs or young that may be inside. It hunts during the period between dusk and dawn, because like other owl species, it has enhanced night vision and hearing. The burrowing owl is omnivorous, and has been observed eating fruits and seeds along with carnivorous treats like small rodents and insects. However, it doesn’t eat just any rodent or insect; the burrowing owl has shown a distinct preference for certain types of each.
The female lays one egg every 1-2 days until she has a complete clutch of anywhere from 4-12 eggs. Incubation takes place over the course of 4 weeks, in which time the male will hunt and bring back food for the expecting mother. In the first stages of their lives, the chicks are fed by both parents, and begin to make exploratory trips out of the burrow at around 4 weeks old. They will continue to be fed by their parents for the next 1-3 months, after which they will leave the burrow to pursue their own lives. Burrowing owls will often utilize the same burrow for several breeding seasons.
Despite its clever adaptations, the burrowing owls Florida contains is considered a species of special concern, threatened in Mexico and endangered in Canada. Their major threats come from prairie dog control programs and loss of habitat, but curiously, their populations are spreading in areas near the Amazon rainforest due to continuing deforestation. Because they are protected by the Migratory Bird Species Act, developers have begun implementing passive procedures that encourage them to relocate before the nesting season and the disturbances begin. Take a look at this charming footage of a family of burrowing owls taken with a hidden camera.
Image via Annette Herz, sfbaywalk
