Burrowing Owls

What You Should Know About Burrowing Owls

Observing owl behavior will help you determine if they are using the area for nesting. Burrowing owls nest from March through August. They may be active during the day, however, they will most likely be seen at dusk or dawn. If owls are nesting, the site must be avoided until the chicks have fledged or it is determined that the nest has failed.

Do you have a nesting pair of owls in the area?

• A burrow that is occupied by an owl will have debris such as twigs or feathers at the entrance.
• Two owls at an entrance to a burrow is a good indication that the area is a nest site. One owl may disappear or reappear over a period of time. This is usually the female. She may have gone below to lay eggs or may be emerging to assist the male in hunting for the young.
• An owl observed carrying food to the burrow is most likely the male providing food for the female while she is incubating eggs.
• Chicks appear at the burrow entrance when they are about 10 days old. They are ready to leave the nest area when they are 40 to 50 days old. The entire nesting cycle can last as long as 74 days.

Burrowing owls in Southern Nevada may use desert tortoise burrows for nesting and shelter. Desert tortoises are protected under the Endangered Species Act, and killing or harming tortoises or collapsing their burrows without prior authorization is prohibited by Federal law.

If you need assistance with determining the status of burrowing owls or desert tortoises on your property, you may want to consider enlisting the services of a professional biologist with expertise in burrowing owl and desert tortoise biology. Some companies have specialized equipment for viewing inside burrows to determine occupancy and breeding status.

If you have additional questions, contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 702-515-5230.