Species Spotlight – The Burrowing Owl

Have you ever been out on the prairie and noticed a small bird perched atop a mound of dirt, or eyes peering at you from a burrow? You may have been lucky enough to spot a Burrowing Owl! These small birds stand at 19 to 28 cm tall with distinctive long legs adapted for running along the ground and large eyes to view far out onto the prairie. Their bright yellow eyes, with their seemingly judgmental quality, are a recognizable feature. Adult owls have mottled brown plumage and are sandy in color, while juveniles are paler with less mottling. This provides excellent camouflage against the dry prairie landscape. From a distance, Burrowing Owls can often be mistaken for Black-tailed Prairie Dogs due to their small round stature and their shared habitat.

In the spring, the owls return to Canada from their winter home in the southern US and Mexico to begin breeding and raising young. After courting, the male begins to modify the chosen burrow to use as a nesting site. He lines the burrow with dried plants and dung which is thought to aid in stabilizing the humidity and temperature. Dung is also a way to mask the owl's scent to deter predators during the nesting period. Females then lay six to twelve eggs and incubate them for about four weeks. Once hatched and after about two weeks, the owlets begin venturing out of the burrow, and by three weeks they begin to learn to hunt.

Importance of Burrowing Owls

Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) are listed as endangered under the Species at Risk Act, which means that they are in danger of being extirpated, or locally extinct from part of their native range. They are protected in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and landowners are also encouraged to take steps in protecting Burrowing Owl habitats. Despite their small stature, these owls play a crucial role in their ecosystems as top predators. A family of Burrowing Owls can consume up to 7,000 insects and 1,800 rodents in a single season. Their presence on the landscape ensures balance of the food chain and control in maintaining natural insect and rodent populations. Their sensitivity to environmental fluctuations serves as an indicator of ecosystem health. In Grasslands National Park, Burrowing Owls take advantage of abandoned Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Richardson’s Ground Squirrel and other small burrowing mammal dens as their own during nesting season, to ensure a safe space to raise their young. This unusual behavior means that you can often find these owls residing within and heavily dependent upon prairie dog colonies.

Protecting the Species

A major factor contributing to the decline of Burrowing Owls is habitat loss and fragmentation. Treeless open grasslands are prime habitat, but unfortunately this also makes it very good agricultural land. Only 20% of native prairie remains in Saskatchewan, which means owls that travel back from their wintering grounds may opt for less-than-ideal areas such as ditches, culverts and farmyards, which bring threats like traffic, spraying and cultivation. Another major threat is pesticide use, specifically Carbofuran. This pesticide is commonly used for grasshopper control which reduces the chances of owls’ breeding success and can cause birth defects, decrease prey availability and reduction of burrowing mammal abundance. Wildlife can also mistake chemical granules for food, and they can also be ingested by preening. Ingestion of poison can also be caused by eating contaminated grasshoppers.

Where to find them

The perfect place to spot Burrowing Owls in Grasslands National Park is along the Ecotour Road. In the spring, you can find them on prairie dog colonies working hard to care for and raise their young. These small owls prefer prairie dog towns, not only for the excess of abandoned burrows but also for the ample space and far-reaching views these colonies provide. Burrowing Owls need short grass or grazed, flat, treeless areas to be able to spot predators and prey from their short height advantage.

Respecting Wildlife

Burrowing Owls are an amazing sight to see at Grasslands National Park and the easily accessible Ecotour Road sometimes takes you within a few metres of their nests. It is very important to remember to respect our wildlife. Be sure to leave enough space to let the owls move freely without feeling stressed or threatened, especially during the breeding season. Burrowing owls are very sensitive creatures, so even what may feel like an adequate distance could still cause stress.

Grasslands National Park is a great place for bird watching and photography. However, make sure to view from the opposite side of the road and set up scopes and camera gear at least 100m from the owl. While a close-up shot is exciting, your proximity could be distressing for the owl! Strive for capturing natural and exciting movements instead and consider staying in your vehicle. After 15 minutes, please pack up and leave the area to let the owls do their thing. You can always come back later to observe, but staying too long can disrupt them.

Burrowing Owls already have many challenges to overcome. We don’t want our presence to be a further cause of nesting failures or to disrupt natural behaviours such as hunting. Always remember to respect wildlife and admire from afar!

If you’re looking for an opportunity to learn more about Burrowing Owls from the experts, check out the Burrowing Owl Day with a Specialist program!