Critter Class
Burrowing Owl
Animal Diversity Web
September 2, 2011
Burrowing Owl You Tube
MVK: OK friends - this is what we are going to learn about tonight
Comment:
Hello MVK!!!!!!
Comment:
Wow, that owl's head tilt is impressive! Very cute little guy!
Comment:
Hi MVK! Owls? Cool!
Comment:
That burrowing owl is beautiful. Do you know why they turn their heads upside down?
MVK:
Not yet I don't - if you do - tell us.
Comment:
That owl in the video is so cute!
MVK:
They do this in reaction to something that is spotted high in their field of vision.
Comment:
Good evening MVK.....Cute little fella.........doesn't looks like a rather small owl.
Comment:
Owl is sooo funny--that head tilt is hilarious to watch. Looks like it is rotating it around and
upside down. Who is Digger> What is his story?
Comment:
Hi MVK, just watched the burrowing owl, what they can do with their head is incredible. what a
cutie. can't wait to learn about them. thank you for doing this
Comment:
An Owl's eyes are large in order to improve their efficiency, especially under low light
conditions. In fact, the eyes are so well developed, that they are not eye balls as such, but
elongated tubes. They are held in place by bony structures in the skull called Sclerotic
rings. For this reason, an Owl cannot "roll" or move its eyes - that is, it can only look
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straight ahead! The Owl more than makes up for this by being able to turn its head
around, and almost upside-down. It is able to achieve this by having a long and very
flexible neck, which is not always apparent, as it is hidden by feathers and the Owl's
posture. An owl's neck has 14 vertebrae, which is twice as many as humans. This allows
the owl to turn its head through a range of 270 degrees measured from a forward facing
position. (Fast research :) )
MVK:
In other words - their vision is sharpest directly in front of them so they turn their heads to get
the object in the best area vision.
Comment:
All owls will tilt their head to hear better. Owls have uneven ear slots on the side of their head,
meaning that one ear mat be up towards the top of their head and the other will be
towards the bottom. Owls tilt their heads to get the same amount of noise in each ear so
they know what direction the noise is coming from.
Comment:
What kind of noise do they make?
MVK:
Voice: Burrowing Owls are very vocal, and have a wide range of different calls. The main call is
given only by adult males, usually when near the burrow to attract a female. A twosyllable "who-who" is given at the entrance of a promising burrow. This call is also
associated with breeding, and territory defense. Other sounds called the "rasp", "chuck",
"chatter", and "scream" have been described. Juveniles give a rattlesnake-like buzz when
threatened in the burrow, and adults give a short, low-level "chuck" call to warn of
approaching predators. This is usually accompanied by bobbing the head up and down.
Per The Owl Pages
MVK:
per Cornel Lab or Ornithology Charismatic and sometimes comical, the diminutive Burrowing
Owl is an easily recognized icon of the grasslands and arid regions of western North
America, Florida, and the Caribbean. Unique among North American owls, this species is
active day and night, nests in underground burrows, and typically nests in small
groups.\\In the past half century, Burrowing Owl populations have declined sharply
across much of the species’ range. The species is listed as Endangered in Canada, as a
species with Special Protection in Mexico, and (although it has no [legal] federal status in
the USA) it is “listed” in half of the 18 western states it still occupies. Although no one
major factor has been implicated in the decline of this species, the cumulative effects of
human activities have undoubtedly taken a major toll.
MVK:
Historically in many parts of the west and south, this species depended on colonies of burrowing
mammals such as prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) for nests sites; reduction of such colonies
by agriculture has limited access to nest burrows and contributed to loss of Burrowing
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Owls in this region. Such colonies were sometimes large; Bent (1938) describes a Florida
colony that (in the 1880s) was 3 miles (4.8 km) long and contained “several hundred”
pairs of owls. Strong local and governmental interest in this species has facilitated
significant conservation efforts to maintain or revive populations, including
reintroduction programs, the use of artificial nest burrows, habitat protection programs,
and protective legislation.
Comment:
They burrow into the ground?
MVK:
Habitat: Burrowing Owls are found in open, dry grasslands, agricultural and range lands, and
desert habitats often associated with burrowing animals, particularly prairie dogs, ground
squirrels and badgers. They can also inhabit grass, forb, and shrub stages of pinyon and
ponderosa pine habitats. They commonly perch on fence posts or on top of mounds
outside the burrow. Burrowing Owls have been reported to nest in loose colonies. Such
groupings may be a response to a local abundance of burrows and food, or an adaptation
for mutual defense. Colony members can alert each other to the approach of predators
and join in driving them off. During the nesting season, adult males forage over a home
range of 2 to 3 square kilometers. Ranges of neighboring males may overlap
considerably. A small area around the nest burrow is aggressively defended against
intrusions by other Burrowing Owls and predators. Per The Owl Pages
Comment:
Do these guys do day or night or both?
MVK:
Habits: Burrowing owls generally active at dusk and dawn, but sometimes at night also. They are
highly terrestrial, and are often seen perched on a mound of dirt, telegraph or fence post frequently on one foot. They bob up and down when excited. Flight is with irregular,
jerky wing beats and they will frequently make long glides, interspersed with rapid wing
beats. They hover during hunting and courtship, and may flap their wings asynchronously
(not up and down together). Per The Owl Pages
Comment:
So where do they live, hence the name, burrowing?
MVK:
In burrows - in the ground - ie. gopher holes or other animals underground burrows
Comment:
They live in abandoned prairie dog or pocket gopher holes (or dig their own)
Comment:
So the burrowing owl doesn't do the WHOOOO....WHOOOO.....WHOOOOO sound? Most owls
I've seen generally do.
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MVK:
No and they have a variety of sounds.
MVK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4icW2RQEqSg&feature=related
MVK:
Size: Length 21.6-28 cm (8.5-11 inches) Wingspan 50.8-61.0 cm (20-24 inches) Weight 170.1214g (6-7.5 oz.) Per The Owl Pages
Lip Kee Photo
Dario Sanchez Photo
Comment:
What part of North America do they live in? MVK, thank you so much for doing these classes!
You're incredible!
Comment:
Okay teach, if they live underground, how do the young fledge?
MVK:
They go outside the burrow and eventually fly
MVK:
Breeding: The nesting season begins in late March or April. Burrowing Owls are usually
monogamous but occasionally a male will have 2 mates. Courtship displays include
flashing white markings, cooing, bowing, scratching and nipping. The male performs
display flights, rising quickly to 30 meters (100 feet), hovering for 5 to 10 seconds, then
dropping 15 meters (50 feet). This sequence is repeated many times. Circling flights also
occur. Burrowing Owls nest underground in abandoned burrows dug by mammals or if
soil conditions allow they will dig their own burrows. They will also use man made nest
boxes placed underground. They often line their nest with an assortment of dry materials.
Adults usually return to the same burrow or a nearby area each year. One or more
"satellite" burrows can usually be found near the nest burrow, and are used by adult
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males during the nesting period and by juvenile Owls for a few weeks after they emerge
from the nest. 6 to 9 (sometimes up to 12) white eggs are laid a day apart, which are
incubated for 28-30 days by the female only. The male brings food to the female during
incubation, and stands guard near the burrow by day. The care of the young while still in
the nest is performed by the male. At 14 days, the young may be seen roosting at the
entrance to the burrow, waiting for the adults to return with food. They leave the nest at
about 44 days and begin chasing living insects when 49-56 days old. Per The Owl Pages
Comment:
So are their nests in trees or in the ground??
MVK:
Under ground
MVK:
Hunting & Food: Burrowing Owls feed on a wide variety of prey, changing food habits as
location and time of year determine availability. Large arthropods, mainly beetles and
grasshoppers, comprise a large portion of their diet. Small mammals, especially mice,
rats, gophers, and ground squirrels, are also important food items. Other prey animals
include: reptiles and amphibians, scorpions, young cottontail rabbits, bats, and birds, such
as sparrows and horned larks. These Owls are quite versatile in the ways they capture
prey. They chase down grasshoppers and beetles on the ground, use their talons to catch
large insects in the air, or hover in mid-air before swooping down on unsuspecting prey.
They also watch from perches, then glide silently toward their target. Burrowing Owls
are primarily active at dusk and dawn, but will hunt throughout a 24-hour period,
especially when they have young to feed. Unlike other Owls, they also eat fruits and
seeds, especially the fruit of Tesajilla and prickly pear cactus. Per The Owl Pages
Comment:
Are there any Burrowing Owls in Virginia?
MVK:
According to the map I posted - no they are in the western states
Comment:
Hello MVK, so good to see you again. I watched a streaming video a couple of years ago of
burrowing owl. There were around 15 in the clutch
MVK:
They are so cute I think. Really very little owls.
Comment:
We have burrowing owls in FLa..... HIIIIIIiiiiiiiiiii MVK!!!!!
MVK:
Well the classes are being archived - so you can catch up later. Nice to see you izzy!
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Comment:
they are little guys with long legs, the run funny and fast
MVK:
Kali - it is wonderful. Do you know how many nights at the library it would have taken in the
"olden" days to compile all the information you can get now. Amazing.
Comment:
hahahahahahaHAH! just saw the burrowing owl video -- a "hoot" -- can't stop laughing -- nice to
have you back mvk ♫♪♫♪
Comment:
MVK, did you say what they eat?
MVK:
Hunting & Food: Burrowing Owls feed on a wide variety of prey, changing food habits as
location and time of year determine availability. Large arthropods, mainly beetles and
grasshoppers, comprise a large portion of their diet. Small mammals, especially mice,
rats, gophers, and ground squirrels, are also important food items. Other prey animals
include: reptiles and amphibians, scorpions, young cottontail rabbits, bats, and birds, such
as sparrows and horned larks. These Owls are quite versatile in the ways they capture
prey. They chase down grasshoppers and beetles on the ground, use their talons to catch
large insects in the air, or hover in mid-air before swooping down on unsuspecting prey.
They also watch from perches, then glide silently toward their target. Burrowing Owls
are primarily active at dusk and dawn, but will hunt throughout a 24-hour period,
especially when they have young to feed. Unlike other Owls, they also eat fruits and
seeds, especially the fruit of Tesajilla and prickly pear cactus. Per The Owl Pages
MVK:
Starfish - I had never heard of them until one of the viewers requested a class on them. Sparked
my curiosity and when I saw them - awwwwwwww LOL
Comment:
WOW - The average adult is slightly larger than an American Robin. They certainly aren't very
big.
MVK:
Sounds like they are a flying Meerkat!
MVK:
Mortality: Burrowing Owls are able to live for at least 9 years in the wild and over 10 years in
captivity. They are often killed by vehicles when crossing roads, and have many natural
enemies, including larger Owls, hawks, falcons, badgers, skunks, ferrets, armadillos,
snakes, and domestic cats and dogs. They are listed as endangered, threatened, or a
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species of special concern in most states and provinces where they occur. Per The Owl
Pages
Comment:
What about the predators, while they are learning to fly?
Comment:
Here's a cute clip of a burrowing owl trying to figure out what a camera is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo9aygYS2ik
MVK:
They live permanent in the green areas so do not need to winter - the winter section is for those
that do not live in the warmer climates and need to migrate.
Comment:
How many Burrowing Owls are there in the United States?
MVK:
Martha - I really have no idea but I bet someone will find it on Google.
Comment:
Do they stay put or do they migrate?
MVK:
They would only migrate if they are in the coldest areas.
Comment:
[going to get a new keyboard] Looking at the areas where they don't go, it appears they don't go
into the amazon and east coast, more humid areas. Does it say anything about the range
of humidity that they can stand on a regular basis, where they prefer to live?
MVK:
It looks, to me, like they like the dry areas - probably easier to burrow - like gophers and other
burrowing animals.
Comment:
These owls must have a strange center of gravity. While the mother was standing on one leg she
looked like she was on an angle. Very strange.
Comment:
We have a big colony of burrowing owls on the edge of a beautiful cemetery in SW Florida.
They are a hoot to watch from the road.
Comment:
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Here is a really cute pic of some babies
http://s1190.photobucket.com/albums/z448/eugenesmith/?action=view&current=Burrowi
ng_owls_t607.jpg
Comment:
I clicked on "more" under the you tube video of the owl that you posted and followed a link to
http://www.ccfriendsofwildlife.org/..they have a great picture of 5 of these little guys
standing at attention together.
MVK:
Geesh they even stand like Meerkats. LOL
Comment:
This web site has a good cut away drawing of a burrowing owls nest (top right)
http://www.robinsonlibrary.com/science/zoology/birds/general/nests.htm
MVK:
Wow Sue interesting and look who they are next too!
Comment:
MVK - you HAVE to look at this one - talks about them lining their tunnels to the nest with poop
of other animals to attract their prey
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,230058,00.html
MVK:
Wow they are smart too! Of course, sleeping in poop may not be the best choice for smelling
fresh and clean in the morning.
Comment:
They are endangered here in Fla and will stop construction if they find nests
Comment:
I am cognizant of borrowing owls in FL my brother in law resides there. Like most owls they
have that sagacious look about them. Are they primarily nocturnal?
MVK:
They will hunt and be active both day and night but mostly hunt at dawn to dusk. They will hunt
during the daytime if needed, especially during nesting season.
Comment:
Here's a link to a video of a family of 12 little ones running inside when a predator comes
around. So cute! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4icW2RQEqSg&NR=1
MVK:
They are so funny to watch - the expressions are hilarious. The mom has two bands on.
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Comment:
There is no end to burrowing owl cuteness on you tube! What fun. So glad to have your classes
as it makes me get out there and look.
Comment:
According to survival world, there are less than 10,000 breeding pairs in the US.
Comment:
From http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=32 about their activity in Canada (breeding area): The
Burrowing Owl’s normal lifespan is three to four years. On rare occasions, a Burrowing
Owl may live as long as eight years.
Comment:
Can owls not move their eyes, so they have to turn their whole heads to focus in?
MVK:
Their keenest vision is in the center of the eye - they will move their heads to keep an object in
the area with the best vision.
Comment:
Just read on the MN Dept. of Natural Resources page that burrowing owls can be found in
western MN in the prairies but are endangered. The site also said that when a burrowing
owl is threatened by something it makes an alarm call that sounds like a snake!! Very
cool!
MVK:
Yes - it will hiss.
Comment:
Can their tunnels collapse and block them in or keep them out?
MVK:
I would think that is always a possibility - but like most burrowers there is more than one
entrance/exit.
Comment:
I don't know what kind of an owl this is, but here is one of my favorites of all time :-).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0fIBrsyu0A
MVK:
Shelly - I think that is a Great Horned Owl
Comment:
This owl nests in animal burrows, thus the common name. Other common names are Billy Owl,
Ground Owl, Long-legged Owl, Prairie Owl, and Prairie Dog Owl.
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Comment:
Burrowing Owls hunt throughout the 24-hour day, but are mainly crepuscular, hunting at dusk
and dawn. They tend to hunt insects in daylight and small mammals at night. (I'm getting
my fun facts from http://www.peregrinefund.org/subsites/explore-raptors2001/owls/burrwowl.html )
Comment:
Interesting facts: If you bother a Burrowing Owl, it will make a rattling sound like a rattlesnake.
Burrowing Owls perch on low places like rocks, mounds of dirt, telephone poles, and
fences while they look for prey. Sometimes Burrowing Owls live on airfields. When an
enemy gets close to them, they bob up and down while standing in one place.
Comment:
Using poop sounds very intriguing for lining their nests, I would guess from this that they can't
smell much, like eagles cannot either. Or are they just saying, we all smell alike, very
poop-scented.
MVK:
"Yes my dear - what sheets (LOL) do you want tonight - cow, pig, squirrel, gopher?"
Comment:
Hi, MVK! In our area the conservationists have set up three areas to attempt to help these little
guys. I find this fascinating. One interesting thing is that they hunt throughout the day
and bask in the sun. This makes them easy to observe. They are soooo cute!
Comment:
Online feather atlas http://www.lab.fws.gov/featheratlas/
Comment:
From http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=32: ... this owl rarely digs its own burrow. Instead, it
constructs its nest in burrows vacated by small mammals like ground squirrels, badgers,
and prairie dogs. ... The extermination of burrowing mammals, particularly badgers and
ground squirrels, often killed as “pests,” reduces the number of suitable homes for the
Burrowing Owl. Fewer of these digging animals mean fewer nests and nearby roost, or
resting, burrows for the birds.
Comment:
Here's another cute video--and this one is set to music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUnpBSQxh5w&feature=related
Comment:
Population Current burrowing owl population estimates are not well known but trend data
suggests significant declines across their range. Most recent official estimates place them
at less than 10,000 breeding pairs. From Defenders of Wildlife
Comment:
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MVK, where to these owls fit into the species from the smallest to the largest? Isn't the elf owl
the smallest?
MVK:
I believe the elf owl is - I imagine the burrowing owl is towards the bottom too. I'll have to check
on that.
MVK:
The average size of owls varies depending on the species. Bubo virginianus or the great horned
owl has an average length of 18 to 27 inches. Generally considered as the smallest owl,
Micrathene whitneyi or the elf owl only grows at an average length of 5 to 12 inches.
Bubo bubo or the Eurasian eagle owl lives in Asia and Europe, which has an average
length of 23 to 30 inches. Bubo blakistoni or Blakiston’s fish owl is a typical owl, the
average length of which measures a huge 24 to 30 inches. Known for its reddish,
brownish or grayish upper body part, the northern pygmy owl grows at any average
length of 6.5 to 7.3 inches.
MVK:
An extinct species of owl is Ornimegalonyx oteroi or the Cuban giant owl, which reportedly has
an average length of 43.3 inches. Native to North America, Aegolius acadicus or the
northern saw-whet owl grows at an average length of 7.09 inches. Meanwhile, the
average length of Aegolius harrisii or the buff-fronted owl is 9.06 inches. Other notable
owl species include Aegolius ridgwayi or the unspotted saw-whet owl that grows 7.09
inches long and Aegolius funereus or the boreal owl that grows at an average length of
8.66 to 10.63 inches.
MVK:
Info per Dimensions Guide
Comment:
Here is a cool article about the zoo in San Diego relocating squirrels to help the burrowing
owls... http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/aug/25/squirrel-relocation-programgoes-nuts-east-county/
Comment:
Wonder if these little owls make their homes differently depending on what’s available in their
area . @ 9:22 Laurie in Edmonton has links to info but this info from Florida Audubon
group lists the following :Nesting: Florida Burrowing Owls have been described as
nesting in loose colonies with burrows located 20 to 30 yards apart. Although they will
use a Gopher Tortoise burrow, Florida Burrowing Owls can dig their own burrow in two
days. The burrow entrance is approximately 5.0 inches high and 3.5 inches wide. The
tunnel is four to eight feet in length and may make several turns before rising at an angle
into the nest cavity. The nest cavity is 12 to 18 inches in diameter and may be six inches
to three feet below the ground. Urban Burrowing Owls line their burrow with grass, palm
fronds, dog and cat feces and other materials. Burrowing Owls in agricultural
environments line their burrows with dry horse or cow manure. The entrance of burrows
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that have eggs may be decorated with shells, shredded paper, tin foil, or other decorative
objects.
http://greenbroward.net/network/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Ite
mid=45
Comment:
Evening MVK, love the burrowing owls. A cam in WA state I used to watch has nine archived
videos. http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildwatch/owlcam/index.html. On right side under videos,
burrowing owls, the first video shows all 12 owlets. Tried to cut & paste but it doesn't
come up as a link ??
Comment:
This is the site someone gave to me when I was trying to determine what kind of owl was outside
my bedroom window. Scroll down when you go to the site and the burrowing owl is
listed. http://www.owlpages.com/sounds.php
Comment:
Burrowing owls Nevada Fish & Game Chicks appear at the burrow entrance @ 10 days old.
Entire nesting cycle can last as long as 74 days. They use desert tortoise’s burrows for
nesting. Collapsing a burrow is prohibited by Federal Law
Comment:
@claudia in ca.-I just searched youtube :-) There are a bunch of adorable videos! Here's another
one trying to figure out a camera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqorSd7oLVU&feature=grec_index
Comment:
Nevada Fish & Game: the owls are protected under the MBTA killing, possessing or destruction
of nests with eggs or young are prohibited. From March through August may be active
during the day most likely at night and must be avoided until the chicks have fledged.
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