Burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) are so named because they live underground in burrows that have been dug out by small mammals like ground squirrels and prairie dogs. They are covered in brown spotted feathers and have long legs. They also sport distinctive white “eyebrows” above bright yellow eyes. They are one of the smallest owls in North America.
Diet- Burrowing owls eat small mammals such as moles and mice during late spring and early summer. Later they switch to insects, especially grasshoppers and beetles. Burrowing owls are also known to eat prey such as birds, amphibians and reptiles.
Population- Current burrowing owl population estimates are not well known but trend data suggests significant declines across their range. Most recent official estimates place them at less than 10,000 breeding pairs.
Range- Burrowing owls are distributed from the Mississippi to the Pacific and from the Canadian prairie provinces into South America. Burrowing owls have disappeared from much of their historic range.
Behavior- Unlike other owls, burrowing owls are active during the day, especially in the spring when they gather food for their large broods. This species of owl prefers open areas with low ground cover. They can often be found perching near their burrow on fence posts and trees.
This is a unique micro cache. Bring your own pen. Cache placed with the kind permission of Canyon Trails Homeowners Association. Good luck and happy caching!