Tiny owls, big impact: burrowing owl conservation

/February 28, 2024/inBurrowing Owl Recovery, Canadian Species Initiative, Canadian Species Initiative, News and Events

Photo: Wendy Miller / Flickr
Feature photo: Mike Dunn / Flickr

Burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) are unlike any other owl species – as their name suggests these birds live underground in abandoned burrows dug by other animals such as prairie dogs, badgers, or even tortoises. They are active during the day as well as at night and can imitate the buzzing sound of a rattlesnake to deter predators. Unfortunately, like many other owl species, burrowing owls face conservation challenges and are classified as Endangered in Canada. Threats, including urbanization, agricultural expansion, and habitat loss, jeopardize their natural nesting sites. Fortunately, conservation efforts are in place across the species’ range to ensure the survival of these fascinating birds and their important native grassland habitat.

Photo: Jan Maguire / Flickr

Wildlife Preservation Canada (WPC) plays a pivotal role in the conservation of endangered species, including the burrowing owl. Working with and supporting conservation partners, WPC has helped stabilize and re-establish wild populations of this unique bird across Canada through hands-on interventions such as conservation breeding and release, as well as conservation-based research to develop improved reintroduction methods.

Photo: Burrowing owl young around 2.5 weeks old. Photo: Alex Froese

Conservation breeding and release can reduce the impacts of threats in the wild by bolstering struggling populations and can even re-establish wild populations in areas of suitable habitat where the species has been lost. At the same time conservation-based research can increase the effectiveness of these intervention actions.

Design of soft-release enclosure. Courtesy of Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC

A temporary soft-release enclosure in Manitoba. Photo: Jessica Riach

In the case of the burrowing owl, a ‘soft release’ technique was developed that enabled owls to transition from a captive environment to the wild during a brief acclimation period in a protective enclosure before being released. This method of release increased the rate of survival of released owls and the number of owls returning to breed each year, improving the success of the reintroduction programs, and ultimately supporting grassland ecosystem recovery.

Integrating ex situ (in human care) and in situ (in the wild) conservation efforts within a holistic approach to species conservation as part of a One Plan Approach ensures that the most effective measures are used to recover an endangered species like the burrowing owl.

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