Introduction

People have long been fascinated with the Burrowing Owl, a ground-dwelling denizen of western grasslands and deserts and of the Florida Peninsula and adjacent Caribbean islands. The Zuni Indians called this owl the “priest of the prairie dogs” because it frequently nests and roosts in empty prairie dog burrows, and early European settlers were convinced that rattlesnakes often shared its nests. Unique among North American owls in many respects, this bird is active day and night and frequently nests in loose colonies in suburban and farmyard environments, making it a familiar owl and one generally appreciated by human residents. Such strong local interest in this species has been of great value where conservation efforts have been necessary to maintain or revive populations.

Small in body size and active both day and night, this owl is vulnerable to many different predators, both mammalian and avian. In addition, farming has taken a major toll on the bird and its habitat, destroying nesting burrows and exposing breeders and their young to the toxic effects of pesticides. Several introduction programs, combined with the use of artificial burrows, have helped to counter these threats.

Although the Burrowing Owl is easy to find and watch during the summer breeding season, a fact that has encouraged numerous studies of its breeding biology, its life during migration and winter is essentially unknown.