Adaptations in the animal kingdom never cease to amaze me—especially the mind-boggling number of incredible adaptations that occur in the avian kingdom!
From birds like the Toucans with their huge colorful bills, to the Hornbills who seal their mates into a tree cavity during the nesting period, to the Bower Birds with their complex courtship behaviors, to the communal hunting behavior of the Harris’ Hawk, birds are one of the most adaptable species on earth.
While on vacation in South Dakota this summer my family and I were fortunate enough to watch one of this country’s most amazing owl species—the Burrowing Owl.
A Burrowing Owl perched atop one of the many dirt mounds next to a Prairie Dog burrow
We had been watching one of the Bison herds in Custer State Park, and had decided to move on. As we drove on we approached one of the Prairie Dog towns. Suddenly, off in the distance, my eagle-eyed oldest daughter spotted a definitely un-Prairie Dog-like creature perched atop one of the many mounds that dotted the field. There, among the Prairie Dogs and their burrows, was the creature I had only seen in documentaries! To say we were excited would be putting it mildly!
As we watched, he glided across the field and caught and devoured a large insect
As we watched and photographed this owl hunting for his lunch—usually insects and small rodents—his Prairie Dog neighbors went unconcernedly about their business. They paid no attention to the Burrowing Owl who usually hunts much smaller prey, but definitely kept an eye on the sky for other predators.
These Prairie Dogs seemed unconcerned about their neighbor--they were watching for larger predators
The Burrowing Owl is a small (slightly larger than an American Robin), long-legged owl found in open landscapes and prairies of North and South America. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated by Prairie Dogs, and are often active during the day, although most hunting is done from dusk to dawn.
Some of the larger prairie plants also make excellent hunting perches
These unusual owls may live as long as nine years in the wild if they do not fall victim to vehicles while crossing roads, or to natural enemies such as badgers, coyotes, snakes, etc. Unlike other owls they will sometimes eat fruit and seeds, such as those of the prickly pear and cholla cacti.
The nesting season is a prime example of this bird’s adaptability. Since trees are scarce or non-existent in their natural environment (most owls nest in tree cavities), this small owl has substituted Prairie Dog burrows (or other similar holes in the ground) for the usual tree cavity. They will line the inside of the burrow with a wide variety of materials—most often mammal dung. How’s that for making lemonade out of lemons?
The Burrowing Owl is endangered in Canada, threatened in Mexico, and a species of special concern in Florida and most of the western USA. One of the major reasons for its decline are control programs for Prairie Dogs, and loss of habitat. So—even though this amazing creature has survived and adapted over the centuries to cope with his environment, he may not be able to adapt quickly enough to keep up with the intervention of humans. Unfortunately this is an all too familiar story.
There are now some passive relocation techniques in place that have proven successful in some areas where the presence of Burrowing Owls has conflicted with development interests. Hopefully these measures will preserve remaining populations of this amazing little creature.
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