Well, apparently this burrowing owl’s patience is wearing a little thin these days.  With an incessant flow of foot and car traffic near his roadside burrow I can certainly see why I was thrown a dirty look.  Even sporting a noble cause did not elevate me above a mere nuisance. Perhaps he’ll understand when we help garner him a buffer zone.  And no worries as I won’t take it personally my feathered friend.

It’s not all that uncommon and I’m sure at some point in our daily travels we have all come across the occasional wayward soul who insists on loitering inside a local store.  And more often than not they just so happen to plant themselves just out of reach.  Logic dictates that the open door from which they entered would ultimately provide a means of escape, but that is not always the case.  But when we are talking about our feathered friends and the power of flight it’s not always that simple.

In cases governed by the Law of Averages, I guess it was just a matter of time before Bernoulli’s statistical principle dictated which feathered creature would actually mingle with wandering patrons under artificial lighting.  Sparrows and pigeons are fairly safe bets, but I wasn’t quite ready to hear that the culprit was a burrowing owl.

As I was putting the final touches on presentation for the Redwood Region Ornithological Society, I received an email from Lindsay Wildlife Museum alerting me that a burrowing owl was reportedly trapped in a store of a nearby outdoor mall.  Unfortunately, the commotion caused the owl to retreat to a secluded spot in the rafters, 18 feet off the ground. 

15 minutes later I was walking through the open doors of Mainland Skate and Surf (Streets of Brentwood).  And not only was the ceiling 18 feet high, but a burrowing owl was perched on the ventilation ductwork at the furthest possible point from the enticing open doors.  After a period of 5 minutes discussing options with staff management, we were able to coax the little owl to fly…which for both our sakes resulted in a landing between some hanging backpacks.  As I sprinted across the store I could see him jostling with the canvas until he came to rest on the ground.  Without hesitation I grabbed a folded shirt from a perfectly aligned stack and covered the nervous owl.

The rescue provided a wonderful opportunity to introduce burrowing owls to a few shoppers and show a little girl her first live owl.  The burrowing owl was returned to his field and readily took to a nearby burrow for what I’m sure was some much needed peace and quiet.

However, I think it is important to recognize the actions of Briana Simmons and Britney Tennison, Mainland staff managers, who took it upon themselves to ensure the safety of the owl and initiate calls to the proper organizations.  Their quick actions resulted in a flurry of phone calls that prevented the owl from an inside overnight stay and potential harm.  It is always great to have the support of conservation-minded individuals!

The Snow Goose Festival in Butte County (January 27-30, 2011) is almost upon us and I can’t think of a more exciting way to bring in the New Year than with a Burrowing Owl Workshop and Field Trip.  It might seem like things are all about snow geese, but the burrowing owl should be top on your list.  However, I am a little biased.

On Saturday, January 29^th, you can learn the history of this California Species of Special Concern, the Western Burrowing Owl, our only raptor that nests underground. Discover what is happening to the habitat of this once common bird whose numbers are dwindling to the point of obscurity, and learn what you can do to help them come back. See how artificial habitat and nesting sites are created to bring this adorable species back from to its former breeding grounds. You will see a demonstration of how these nesting sites are constructed and be taken on a field trip to the actual installations in Chico. With luck, you may get a glimpse of this very special little owl that nests underground.

The event is hosted by Larry Jordan:

Larry Jordan is an avid bird watcher, the webmaster for the Wintu Audubon Society, and the County Coordinator for the California Bluebird Recovery Program in Shasta County. He monitors three bluebird trails in Shasta County to assist in the revival of the Western Bluebird. Larry is currently in the process, with the help of a grant from Audubon California, of installing artificial burrows to help with the recovery of the Burrowing Owl in California. He is a BirdLife Species Champion and contributes to several other conservation efforts, most recently becoming the habitat manager for the Burrowing Owl Conservation Network. He is the author of a blog on birding and conservation at The Birders Report.

Learn more about the Snow Goose Festival and the Western Burrowing Owl Workshop and Field Trip (click here)

I’ll leave out the nitty gritty, but last week I made a couple of Bay Area and Central Valley visits to check on some burrowing owls that had been reported to the Burrowing Owl Conservation Network.  At one of these sites I unknowingly entered into a game of peek-a-boo as I was surveying the land so I thought I’d share a couple of photos. 

More importantly though, we need your help to make a positive difference in California for burrowing owls so I encourage everyone, whether living in California or not, to sign our petition.  We’re making it easy to voice your concerns and have all the bases covered:  sign online via Facebook Causes or visit the Burrowing Owl Conservation Network website where you can sign electronically or print and mail a petition.  The petition and all signatures will be  hand-delivered to state officials in Sacramento, CA.

Read more about California’s declining burrowing owl population on our latest press release or via a great article by Larry Jordan at 10,000 Birds.

I could see their skeletons rising above the concrete sound wall and I just knew a lighthearted Saturday afternoon had now been irreparably damaged.  I didn’t want to look, but felt a responsibility for the sole burrowing owl that had been managing to hang on to its shrinking suburban habitat.  One of seven remained up until the second week in October; it was akin to an individual holding fast to principles and refusing to sell the family land.  He sat solemnly in front of his burrow as the 360 degree view was transformed from short grasses to asphalt streets. Unlike previous visits, I knew exactly what to expect this time after breaching the neighborhood’s walls.  But it didn’t soften the blow at all.

Construction activities were in full swing and homes were in a variety of developmental stages. I walked to the last known occupied burrow, but like nearby satellite dens it had been camouflaged with piles of dirt. This burrowing owl habitat became an ordinary, lifeless lot that is predestined for urban adornments such as driveways and lawns. 

As I stood over the memories I could only hope that proper measures had been taken to ensure the safety of the owl prior to filling in its home.  The track record for this site is not good, and with a history of covering up active burrows (watch video) during breeding season I cannot be faulted for assuming the worst.  With what I can only imagine to be an irritated look upon my face I asked Heather why it is so difficult to get answers from agencies designed to protect our wildlife.  I simply want to know why my messages go unanswered, why immediate action by officials ultimately fizzles out, and why documenting the loss of burrowing owls is only met with the same ubiquitous “concern” for my safety:

“Did you have permission to go do this? It might open you up for trespassing.”

Is this really a concern or am I essentially being issued a warning?  I thought the actual issue was preventing the loss of burrowing owls in the Bay Area and California.  For the record, I always respect local laws…just wish others would do the same when it comes to our wildlife.  And I’ll let you know if or when I receive an agency response, but for now the status quo continues as I deal with misplaced warnings that hinder burrowing owl conservation.

Prior to latest construction behind black barrier. Lower left corner: Burrow and owl

It’s never too early to start planning for the next great event and of course we all need the extra time to add them to our calendars.  So here is the first of many reminders about the upcoming meeting of the California Burrowing Owl Consortium.

Our host, Sonoma Birding, is working on an exciting venue and I am looking forward to seeing you there.  And of course meeting all of you in person, talking burrowing owls, and sharing my presentation and conservation ideas.

Sept 11th (Sat) – California Burrowing Owl Consortium  (10:00AM- 3:00PM)

The fall event is hosted by Sonoma Birding at the beautiful Viansa Winery and Wetlands:

25200 Arnold Drive
Sonoma, CA 95476

Both the science and citizen science community are most welcomed.  The agenda will include presentations by experts, breakout sessions, a panel discussion and reception. Your $30 entrance fee also includes lunch.

Make checks payable to:  Viansa Winery
Mail payment by Monday, Sept. 6, 2010 to:  Sonoma Birding, PO. Box 1621, Sonoma, CA 95476

Phone Tom Rusert at 707-939-8007 or email sonomanature (at) gmail (dot) com with suggestions or questions.  Come and Celebrate Sonoma’s Good Nature!

There’s an eviction looming on the horizon, but the residents don’t see the signs.  An earthmover and bulldozer sit temporarily idle on a newly paved road.  Homes are in various stages of development a block away.  A sales center adorned with colorful flags and signs branded by the company’s name have settled on a gravel laden lot.  There is a hodgepodge of empty parcels including undisturbed habitat, farmland in the midst of returning to its pre-agricultural state, land that had been graded just prior to the housing crisis, and property in which streets have been etched into the surface but are yet to be installed.  A streetlight flashes on and off while waiting to be programmed to control future traffic.  One, two, three, ten and perhaps more than twenty burrowing owls perch along fresh sidewalks, rest atop water pipes, stand guard on a chain-linked fences, and occupy burrows peppered throughout the impending human sprawl.

There’s evidence that evictions have been here before, which has now been confiscated as spoils of war.  Obviously the attempt at burrowing owl eradication did not take.  Obviously the consultants failed to adhere to an eviction policy designed to prevent owls from returning. Obviously the owls will have to undergo the trauma and danger of yet another removal. And as I traversed the landscape I realized I had been here before.  The location is different, but the situation is the same.  It’s burrowing owl eviction déjà vu and I don’t like what I’m seeing.

However, there is a silver lining so to speak.  It’s not much but I have breeding season on my (our) side for the moment.  It’s better than nothing; it’s better than the status quo that has been allowed to proceed unfettered for years in California.  The good news is that the word is getting out and the plight of burrowing owls is spreading.  People are taking notice and an interest by providing tips and sighting reports.  And that’s exactly what we need to ensure future protections.

Unfortunately future protections will not save these owls so I am now looking for something a little more immediate.  I crave long-term solutions, but will settle for short-term action if it means these neighboring raptors will not become a statistic in the Bay Area’s recent 28% burrowing owl population decline.  So a visit to the Planning Department to review the Environmental Impact Reports was warranted.  If only it contained the answer to the burgeoning burrowing owl issue that is plaguing Contra Costa County.  Instead I stumbled upon Department of Fish & Game inconsistencies that make me wonder if there is a lack of policy understanding within the agency, if there is an attempt at disseminating propaganda, if consultants are completely misinformed, or if it is simply a little bit of everything designed to mislead the public and help developers instead of working for species conservation.  Whatever the reason it is completely unacceptable and it solidifies my resolve to make sweeping conservation changes in this state.

But while I formulate my plan of action, nature moves forward as intended.  A lone kestrel swoops down at a burrowing owl standing guard in front of its burrow.  A black-tailed jackrabbit explodes from the brush and disappears within seconds.  California ground squirrels dart for cover and sound the alarm as I sidestep growing tumbleweeds.  A burrowing owl crouches in an effort to blend with the dirt and weeds, and a plastic bag rolls across the site; reminding me that these owls are surrounded by urbanization and yet another illustration of habitat lost.