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Project Noah Nature School
Athene cunicularia
These young owls range in age from 25 to 30 days old. They were nearly half way toward maturity, and the ability to hunt and ultimately survive on their own. They have pale white eyebrows, throat, and unmarked buffy-colored breast, as pictured. They are distinguished from other owls with their long legs, nesting in burrows rather than trees.
The owls pictured live in an orchard in an urban area of Las Vegas, NV. Artificial burrows have been constructed in the orchard and surrounding area with assistance from Red Rock Audubon and Nevada Fish and Wildlife. Some burrows have been monitored internally through camera by researchers from the University of Idaho. The orchard is beneficial as it supports insects, small reptiles (lizards and snakes), and mammals such as mice upon which the owls feed. There is also some protection from close-in human activity. These birds are vulnerable in southern Nevada due to urban development and the associated population increase in the area.
Burrowing owls through this stage in their lives face some harsh challenges and realities. Even before they hatch, there are uncertainties. In a nearby burrow monitored by camera, a snake entered and attempted to grab an egg. Mom placed herself between the snake and egg clutch, ultimately forcing the snake to leave. During monitor of the pictured burrow last year, a coopers hawk visited unexpectedly and took one of the chicks who had ventured too far from the safety of the burrow. The chicks hatch from a clutch of eggs sometimes over a period of a week or more, not hatching at the same time. Those who hatch early have a distinct size advantage over those who hatch just a few days later. They grow fast...note size differences in the first photo above with estimated ages ranging from 25 to 30 days old. As the parents (pictured in photo 3) bring food to the burrow, the larger chicks will aggressively take their share first (2nd photo above with the daily special, a june bug). The smaller juveniles sometimes get much less, or just go hungry. Being cute and cuddly does not count in survival matters. Ultimately, of the five owl chicks pictured…4 survived to fledge as of July 13th. It is still early in their young lives, with survival odds adverse to them. Be safe, guys!
Spotted on Jun 8, 2018
Submitted on Aug 20, 2018
22 Comments
Much appreciated, Michael!
Congrats !!! Beautiful Spotting!!
Thanks, Antonio!
Great spotting Jim,perfet series,showing one of the chicks eating and all family :-) Also great notes, congrats on the well deserved SOTW and thanks for sharing
Thanks Daniele, Noah Rangers, and all who commented. Cuteness can certainly help conservation efforts...whatever it takes!
Congrats!
Congratulations Jim! A wonderful spotting!
Congratulations Jim, beautiful photos.
Felicitaciones por el SOTW
Congrats Jim, well deserved!
Congratulations Jim, your juvenile Burrowing Owls have this year again been voted Spotting of the Week! Your continuing and engaging documentation of this conservation effort is greatly appreciated. Of course cuteness played an undeniable role ;-)
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Thanks Ashley and Noah Rangers for the nomination!
Maria, I appreciate the comment.
Very nice photos, including the one of an owlet feeding, and interesting description!
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
Artificial nesting sites are protected area and available for breeding year after year .For eg ,on Mt Diablo has successfully established a healthy blue bird population using nesting boxes. These boxes are monitored and maintained. Now the migratory Ash throated flycatchers have used the bluebird boxes too and have successfully established themselves here.
Thanks Cynthia and Lauren!
Hema...I hope artificial nesting helps. In the western US, development and habitat loss is going at a pace that artificial cannot keep up. In the case of burrowing owls, those that migrate south from Arizona and Nevada, and return 6 to 8 months later, may in that short period find their nesting areas completely obliterated by development. Their survival outlook is then greatly compromised.
IT is becoming a reality that more and more artificial nesting sites have to be used. Purple martins are breeding in nesting boxes only. Gone are the days of building nests . At least for the Purple Martins. Building a nest can be such a great activity for the couple. Alas!.
So interesting!
Beautiful owls! Love the story too.
Thanks Maplemoth and Ziatan!
great spotting, Jim, and good story! Thanks
Cute....