Laserfiche WebLink
41 <br />Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia). Federal Listing Status: None; State Listing Status: <br />Species of Concern. <br />The burrowing owl is considered a California species of special concern. This decision was <br />based on the fact that the burrowing owl’s population levels were decreasing due to habitat <br />destruction, roadside nesting (vulnerability to human interference) and indirectly as a result of <br />ground squirrel poisoning. <br />The burrowing owl is a small, long-legged, semi-fossarial bird that averages a height of 9.5 <br />inches, has an average wingspan of 23 inches, and weighs an average of 5.25 ounces. Burrowing <br />owls are unique, as they are the only owl that regularly lives and breeds in underground nests. In <br />California, these birds typically occur in the Central and Imperial Valleys, primarily utilizing <br />ground squirrel burrows (or the burrows of other animals, e.g., badgers, prairie dogs and <br />kangaroo rats) found in grasslands, open shrub lands, deserts, and to a lesser extent, grazing and <br />agricultural lands. Burrowing owls in this region are typically found in lower elevations, and <br />have strong site fidelity. Pairs have been known to return to the same area year after year, and <br />some pairs are known to utilize the same burrow as the previous year. <br />Life History. Burrowing owls feed on various small mammals including deer mice, voles, and <br />rats. They also prey on various invertebrates including crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, <br />centipedes, scorpions and crayfish. Peak hunting periods occur around dusk and dawn. <br />The breeding season for the burrowing owl runs from February to August, with a peak between <br />April and July. Clutch size varies from six to 12 eggs, with an average of seven to nine eggs. <br />Females generally produce only one clutch per year. The female incubates the eggs for a month, <br />while the male provides her food. The male continues to provide food during the brooding <br />period. The young remain in their burrow for approximately two weeks after hatching, and <br />become fully independent of their parents between eight to ten weeks of age. Burrowing owls <br />are a fairly short-lived species, with an average life expectancy of 4.8 years. The oldest known <br />wild burrowing owl was eight years and eight months old at the time of its death. <br />Burrowing owls are subject to predation by larger mammals (e.g., feral cats, bobcats, fox and <br />coyotes). They are also susceptible to anthropogenic effects such as collisions with automobiles, <br />and destruction or disruption of their nests, especially during the breeding season. The