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Trulio, Lynne. 1998. Native Revival: Efforts to Protect and Restore the Burrowing Owl in the South Bay Area. Tideline. Vol 17 No. 1 1-3.
by Lynne Trulio As you hurry by, a pair of golden yellow eyes traces your every step. You probably didn't see them, but if you had looked carefully groundward on your way through Bixby Park, Shoreline at Mountain View or Mission College, you would have found you were being watched by a western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea). The burrowing owl is not easy to spot. With its mottled brown and white feathers, this small bird - only 9 inches tall - is virtually invisible in its grassy or bare soil habitat. The burrowing owl is also difficult to find because it is becoming rare in the South and East San Francisco Bay Area. You may want to see this endearing bird while you still can. The best places to look are large, open treeless fields with plenty of ground squirrel burrows. The burrowing owl is the only owl that nests underground and is active both day and night. During the day, the owl will stand by its burrow. At dusk and into the night the bird becomes an active hunter. The burrowing owl does not hoot like other owls, but it does have a variety of different calls, from mating "coos" to alarm "chirps" |
Native
Revival: Efforts to Protect and RestoreLast updated:
May 27, 2008
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