Many a time I felt like I was donning a badge.  And then there are those instances when I slipped into the role of a wildlife vigilante.  And without going into too many details there were a few times I hovered on the precipice of what could be described as committing minor infractions for the sake of protecting an endangered species.  However, in all circumstances they were based on a moral obligation.

But it wasn’t all that long ago that I found myself filling a role that has been a television fad for a number of years.  I wasn’t looking to become a crime scene investigator; it just happened.  And unfortunately this crime is not one that will make the local blotter. The town is Brentwood, the season is summer and the time is two hours before sunset…

I unholstered my weapon, checked the clip, and mirrored these actions with an easily concealed backup.  My partner, Heather, did the same.  Our Canons were ready to fire as was our point and shoot Olympus.  We were headed out on patrol and eager to check the status of 3 burrowing owl sites, two of which are in danger of being decimated by upcoming construction.  With a colony potentially 20 birds strong, we decided to hit this suburban habitat first.  As we turned the corner and set forth upon the straightaway at 25 miles per hour, everything was in order.  Tractors were absent.

I scanned from left to right as I searched for burrowing owls.  Although it was not a heavily traveled thoroughfare, I continued to catch glimpses of the paved street in front of me to ensure a lack of oncoming traffic.  As I panned right I expected to see a familiar face adorned with bright lemon eyes and a body whose feathers have been faded by the rays of the sun.  He was old faithful.  This male had found his sweet spot 6 feet off the sidewalk.  It was atop a small slope that provided the perfect vantage point for standing watch and protecting its nesting mate.  The day in and day out of sentry duty in combination with the summer sun had lightened his overall appearance.  A minor and temporary tradeoff considering the potential of adding young to a dwindling population.

Owl 2 weeks prior to death

But in the blink of an eye I had simultaneously turned the steering wheel towards the curb, slammed on the brakes, and exited the vehicle.  The discolored feathers attached to the partially remaining body twitched in the breeze while those that escaped highlighted the direction of the wind.  The owl was resting on the exact spot that he had stood so vigilantly before.  A predator may have ravaged the site, but it certainly did not leave the fresh tire tracks.  Evidence was pointing to construction activities.

As we kneeled next to owl, Heather and I noted the addition of newly piled rocks and dirt adjacent of the crime.  A lone burrowing owl, perhaps the deceased’s counterpart, watched our movements.  We investigated the burrow for the female and signs of tampering, but we only found evidence of nature and instinct at work.  At least 15 frogs retrieved from a nearby wetland were decorating the burrow’s entrance.  As Heather maintained visual contact with the observant owl and photographed the recent construction activities, I crossed the street for a different perspective and to inspect some satellite burrows.  We were becoming convinced that the culprits were those responsible for developing the land.  It wasn’t an act I thought was done purposefully, but it was indeed negligence since there is to be no action during breeding season.  The owl paid the price for humans not following the rules.  But wait, I was wrong!

Lots of frogs at burrow entrance

In the street, equidistant from the primary burrow on the right and the secondary burrows on the left, was a set of new facts.  A small stain, a few feathers, and a faint drag mark that pointed to the slope on the hill, that pointed to the body, were waiting to be discovered.  It’s a terrible story that was begging to be told.  As if watching a virtual, semi-transparent replay staged for television audiences, I could see the male owl take flight from the slope.  And in traditional burrowing owl fashion, it’s flight path to the satellite burrow was marked by a dip; a dip that reached its lowest point directly over the street. 

Unfortunately the owl and a speeding car met each other in space and time, and was subsequently (and coincidentally) moved by a scavenger to the same place it routinely stood watch. It’s a danger that plagues wildlife every day, a reminder not to jump to conclusions, and an accident that I hope to minimize in the future by posting caution signs when colonies nest in proximity to streets.  CASE CLOSED!

Tags: Burrowing Owl Conservation Network, burrowing owls, burrrowing owl conservation

This entry was posted by Scott on Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 at 3:49 pm and is filed under birds, conservation, Human Threats, Migratory Birds, Owls, Raptors, Urban sprawl, Wildlife. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.