Artificial Burrows for Burrowing Owls

Burrowing Owls need short grassy areas where they can chase down insects and other small prey, and underground burrows to nest and roost in.  Where prairie dogs and other burrowing mammals have disappeared, they can use culverts or even artificial burrows created just for them.  Several groups around the country have projects to creat artificial owl burrows, including:

• Arizona Partners in Flight
• Albany, CA
• Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife (FL)
• El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society (TX)
  
• Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group (CA)
  
• Burrowing Owl Preservation Society (CA)
• Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society (WA)
• Wild At Heart (AZ)
• Burrowing Owl Conservation Society (BC)

Check out this pioneering article on artificial owl burrows from a 1977 volume of the North American Bird Bander.  See also news stories here and here.  View a US Department of Energy study from Washington state here.  There are many more resources online here.

Photos: Burrowing Owls by Chris Mullon; artificial yard burrow setup in Florida by Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife.