Schiess: Burrowing owls arrive, entertain

As I watched a pair of Burrowing owls just off Interstate 15 during a snow storm, I imagined a conversation between the pair.

“I should have stayed in Nevada a little longer,” griped the female with a scowl on her face as she shivered in the newly fallen snow. “I am freezing my tail feathers off.”

“The weather was good the last two weeks except for the wind,” replied her significant other. “At least I cleaned out the house for you.”

“But it still smells like a dirty old bachelor badger and it leaks.”

They were perched on the edge of an old badger hole they had used the previous three years, raising 17 children. Later a snow storm blew in covering her with the wet stuff as she sat on the edge of the burrow while the Mr. dug out more dirt that had sluffed back inside.

The Mr. was one of three other males that moved into the Sage Junction area within a day of each other. Each found an area with multiple burrows built by badgers as they had dug up hibernating ground squirrels, thus making perfect homes for these small owls.

Now there are 12 pairs that have found suitable holes to raise their young along I-15 and Hwy 33. Others could be looking for holes in the Big Desert from Blackfoot to the Montana line near Spencer.

Burrowing owls are listed as a “species of special concern” by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service with several states listing them as “endangered” because of their declining habitat. But in Southeastern Idaho, the population appears to be increasing with pairs found west of Blackfoot and Idaho Falls.

Not a lot is known about their migration or their population. A worldwide survey in 2004 estimated there were only 10,000 breeding pairs. Because of their status, a sanctuary has been established in the Flamingo Gardens Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary where they are flourishing.

Burrowing owls differ from other owls in several ways. One of these is that they are diurnal, not nocturnal, meaning they are active in the day, not during the night. Adults can be seen sitting on fence posts, sagebrush and rock piles, as they never roost very far off the ground while hunting. Being daytime hunters, they feed on frogs, lizards, insects, ground squirrels and other rodents.

Another difference from other owls is that the female is smaller than the male and are usually darker in color.

Burrowing owl broods are usually large with from six to 12 eggs. Once the female starts incubating the eggs, the male finds a “satellite” burrow close by to sleep in. He is kicked out but will bring food to the female and will stand guard near the nest during the day.

Once the young emerge from the burrow they are a hoot to watch. Their long legs make them look awkward when they walk and the twisting of the head and the glaring at you can be comical as they continually stretch their wings. Even while honing their hunting skills by trying to catch beetles or grasshoppers can cause one to laugh and enjoy the show.

But the most fun is when they try to fly. They will walk away from the burrow 20 to 40 feet and then try to fly back to it, often crashing landing in a cloud of dust.

In your travels keep an eye peeled for a burrow watched over by a single Mr. or surrounded by from six to eight of his young sentinels. Once located a family of Burrowing owls can entertain you for hours.