#Audubon Bird Sanctuary

[gulfcoastinspired]

A Meditative Walk through the Audubon Bird Sanctuary Nature Trail at Dauphin Island, Alabama

A Meditative Walk through the Audubon Bird Sanctuary Nature Trail at Dauphin Island, Alabama

[reasonsforhope]

"Chicago’s 82-story Aqua Tower appears to flutter with the wind. Its unusual, undulating facade has made it one of the most unique features of Chicago’s skyline, distinct from the many right-angled glass towers that surround it.

In designing it, the architect Jeanne Gang thought not only about how humans would see it, dancing against the sky, but also how it would look to the birds who fly past. The irregularity of the building’s face allows birds to see it more clearly and avoid fatal collisions. “It’s kind of designed to work for both humans and birds,” she said.

As many as 1 billion birds in the US die in building collisions each year. And Chicago, which sits along the Mississippi Flyway, one of the four major north-south migration routes, is among the riskiest places for birds. This year, at least 1,000 birds died in one day from colliding with a single glass-covered building. In New York, which lies along the Atlantic Flyway, hundreds of species traverse the skyline and tens of thousands die each year.

As awareness grows of the dangers posed by glistening towers and bright lights, architects are starting to reimagine city skylines to design buildings that are both aesthetically daring and bird-safe.

Pictured: Chicago's Aqua Tower was designed with birds in mind.

Some are experimenting with new types of patterned or coated glass that birds can see. Others are rethinking glass towers entirely, experimenting with exteriors that use wood, concrete or steel rods. Blurring lines between the indoors and outdoors, some architects are creating green roofs and facades, inviting birds to nest within the building.

“Many people think about bird-friendly design as yet another limitation on buildings, yet another requirement,” said Dan Piselli, director of sustainability at the New York-based architecture firm FXCollaborative. “But there are so many design-forward buildings that perfectly exemplify that this doesn’t have to limit your design, your freedom.”

How modern buildings put birds in danger

For Deborah Laurel, principal in the firm Prendergast Laurel Architects, the realization came a couple of decades ago. She was up for an award for her firm’s renovation of the Staten Island Children’s Museum when the museum’s director mentioned to her that a number of birds had been crashing into the new addition. “I was horrified,” she said.

She embarked on a frenzy of research to learn more about bird collisions. After several years of investigation, she found there was little in the way of practical tips for architects, and she teamed up with the conservation group NYC Audubon, to develop a bird-safe building guide.

The issue, she discovered, was that technological and architectural advancements over the last half-century had in some ways transformed New York City – and most other US skylines and suburbs – into death traps for birds...

At certain times of day, tall glass towers almost blend into the sky. At other times, windows appear so pristinely clear that they are imperceptible to birds, who might try to fly though them. During the day, trees and greenery reflected on shiny building facades can trick birds, whereas at night, brightly lit buildings can confuse and bewilder them...

Pictured: A green roof on the Javits Convention Center serves as a sanctuary for birds.

The changes that could save avian lives

About a decade ago, Piselli’s firm worked on a half-billion-dollar renovation of New York’s Jacob K Javits Convention Center, a gleaming glass-clad space frame structure that was killing 4,000-5,000 birds a year. “The building was this black Death Star in the urban landscape,” Piselli said.

To make it more bird friendly, FXCollaborative (which was then called FXFowle) reduced the amount of glass and replaced the rest of it with fritted glass, which has a ceramic pattern baked into it. Tiny, textured dots on the glass are barely perceptible to people – but birds can see them. The fritted glass can also help reduce heat from the sun, keeping the building cooler and lowering air conditioning costs. “This became kind of the poster child for bird-friendly design in the last decade,” Piselli said.

The renovation also included a green roof, monitored by the NYC Audubon. The roof now serves as a sanctuary for several species of birds, including a colony of herring gulls. Living roofs have since become popular in New York and other major cities, in an inversion of the decades-long practice of fortifying buildings with anti-bird spikes. In the Netherlands, the facade of the World Wildlife Fund headquarters, a futuristic structure that looks like an undulating blob of mercury, contains nest boxes and spaces for birds and bats to live.

The use of fritted glass has also become more common as a way to save the birds and energy.

Earlier this year, Azadeh Omidfar Sawyer, an assistant professor in building technology in the Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture, working with student researchers, used open-source software to help designers create bespoke, bird-friendly glass patterns. A book of 50 patterns that Sawyer published recently includes intricate geometric lattices and abstract arrays of lines and blobs. “Any architect can pick up this book and choose a pattern they like, or they can customize it,” she said.

Pictured: The fritted glass used in Studio Gang’s expansion of Kresge College at the University of California, Santa Cruz, depicts the animals in the local ecosystem.

Builders have also been experimenting with UV-printed patterns, which are invisible to humans but perceptible to most birds. At night, conservationists and architects are encouraging buildings turn off lights, especially during migration season, when the bright glow of a city skyline can disorient birds.

And architects are increasingly integrating screens or grates that provide shade as well as visibility for birds. The 52-floor New York Times building, for example, uses fritted glass clad with ceramic rods. The spacing between the rods increases toward the top of the building, to give the impression that the building is dissolving into the sky.

Gang’s work has incorporated structures that can also serve as blinds for birders, or perches from which to observe nature. A theater she designed in Glencoe, Illinois, for example, is surrounded by a walking path made of a wood lattice, where visitors can feel like they’re up in the canopy of trees.

Pictured: The Writers Theatre, designed by Studio Gang, includes a walking path encased in wood lattice.

Rejecting the idea of the iridescent, entirely mirrored-glass building, “where you can’t tell the difference between the habitat and the sky”, Gang aims for the opposite. “I always tried to make the buildings more visible with light and shadow and geometry, to have more of a solid presence,” she said.

Gang has been experimenting with adding bird feeders around her own home in an effort to reduce collisions with windows, and she encourages other homeowners to do the same.

“I’ve found that birds slow down and stop at feeders instead of trying to fly through the glass,” she said.

While high-rise buildings and massive urban projects receive the most attention, homes and low-rise buildings account for most bird collision deaths. “The huge challenge is that glass is everywhere.” said Christine Sheppard, who directs the glass collisions program at the American Bird Conservancy (ABC). “It’s hard to know what I know and not cringe when I look at it.”

Tips for improving your own home include using stained glass or patterned decals that can help birds see a window, she said. ABC has compiled a list of window treatments and materials, ranked by how bird-safe they are.

Whether they’re large or small, the challenge of designing buildings that are safe for birds can be “liberating”, said Gang, who has become an avid birdwatcher and now carries a pair of binoculars on her morning jogs. “It gives you another dimension to try to imagine.”"

-via The Guardian, December 27, 2023

[herpsandbirds]

Just wanted to say that your blog has brought me a ton of joy!

About a decade ago, I got to do an internship with the National Audubon Society near Constitution Marsh Sanctuary (in New York, right across from West Point), and seeing all of the bird pictures you post brings me back to that magical time. Thank you for sharing your passion with the world!!

Your'e welcome, and thank you as well.

Here's a favorite bird of mine for you...

Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala), male, family Psittaculidae, order Psittaciformes, Maharashtra, India

photograph by Dwipendra Chakraborty

[rjzimmerman]

I'm going to invite these scientists to our house and yard. We have dozens and dozens of grackles at our feeders, making their grackle noises and bullying away our other "resident" birds. But in case they're right, here's an excerpt from an Audubon story:

As people have remade the American landscape, they’ve also shaped the fortunes of Common Grackles. The iridescent blackbirds flourished in the grain fields and pastures that European settlers cultivated after cutting down forests in the 18th and 19th centuries. By the 1970s, an estimated 150 million grackles inhabited a vast stretch from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains, and today they are regulars across much of the continent. But the birds are disappearing—and no one knows why. A new tracking project aims to reveal what’s driving the mysterious decline.

Birders were among the first to gather evidence of the species’ troubling trajectory. In winter, grackles join Red-winged Blackbirds, European Starlings, and other birds in giant swirling congregations. Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) long tallied roosts of up to tens of millions of birds. But in the past couple of decades, participants have rarely found flocks of more than a few million, says former CBC director Geoff LeBaron. Other blackbirds are in decline, too, but grackles have become noticeably absent from winter roosts.

According to CBC data, Common Grackles have been dropping at a rate of 3 percent per year, which amounts to a roughly 78 percent decline since 1970, says Tim Meehan, a quantitative scientist at Audubon. Meanwhile, federal Breeding Bird Surveys, which take place each summer, have found at least a 50 percent decline over the past half century. These data clearly indicate that there are fewer grackles across the board, Meehan says: “It’s a slam dunk.”

Michael Ward, a University of Illinois biologist, is one of the lead scientists delving into the conundrum. In 2021 he and his colleagues ruled out a hunch that grackles were failing to produce young: 60 percent of chicks in nearly 200 nests that he monitored fledged successfully, a higher rate than most songbirds achieve. Whatever is harming grackles is likely affecting adults, Ward says.

It’s possible the resourceful foragers, which eat everything from grubs to grains to garbage, are exposed to something dangerous in their diet. The researchers suspect insects and corn could be hazardous meals: Both may contain high levels of neonicotinoids—insecticides commonly applied to grains that have been linked to a decline in avian biodiversity in North America and beyond. Ward’s group plans to study what grackles eat on their breeding grounds to help determine how great a risk their food poses.

Meanwhile, the scientists want to better understand the challenges grackles face after leaving their breeding grounds. In addition to stringing up mist nets to snag birds in residential neighborhoods and at roost sites, Ward and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Kelly VanBeek set live traps baited with seed and mealworms at Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance’s Goose Pond Sanctuary. They outfitted 14 Common Grackles with satellite tags throughout the summer and early fall of 2023 as the birds prepared to depart for their wintering grounds in the Southeast and southern Midwest.

On those journeys, VanBeek says, there are plenty of opportunities for the migrants to encounter other possible chemical culprits like fungicides, which may disrupt birds’ hormones and metabolism and are typically applied in the fall when grackles are on the move. Blackbirds’ penchant for foraging on farmland in large flocks makes them a target for culling as well. Between 1974 and 1992, the federal government killed up to 18 million Common Grackles in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama to reduce damage to agricultural crops. The pace has slowed, but the practice continues: Wildlife Services, a USDA division, killed more than 630,000 Common Grackles over the past decade. That’s on top of birds taken by farmers under FWS permits.

[hclib]

Save Cedar Lake Park!

In the spring of 1989, Glacier Park Company was selling a large plot of land – 48 acres on the north shore of Cedar Lake. A group of concerned neighbors founded Save Cedar Lake Park (SCLP) with a mission to “Establish a nature park on the north and northeast shores of Cedar Lake and along the railroad right-of-way from Cedar Lake to Highway 100.” This unique urban nature preserve would link together the Chain of Lakes, Mississippi River, and western Minneapolis suburbs with a pedestrian and bicycle corridor and would complete a grand vision for the city parks.

In January 1990, the Metropolitan Council of Minneapolis unanimously approved a recommendation to add the Cedar Lake Park initiative to the Park and Recreation Board’s existing capital improvement plan. By summertime, discussions were already in motion with the Nature Conservancy, State officials, and Glacier Park Co. to accomplish early acquisition.

Market value for the land was $1.7 million. The Metropolitan Council Open Space Commission approved $1.2 million in funds if SCLP could raise the remaining, which came to roughly $560,000. For the next two years, Save Cedar Lake Park organized a massive fund-raising push involving public education initiatives, newsletters, and a benefit concert, picking up a Committee on Urban Environment (CUE) Award along the way. The Minneapolis Chapter of the Audubon Society even pledged their entire Sanctuary Fund ($15,000) to SCLP, hoping to sway legislators. The “birders” felt this was the closest they could get to having a bird sanctuary.

30 years ago, in November 1992, SCLP presented the city with $473,000 citizen-collected dollars, the largest amount of public money raised to buy a piece of land in the state of Minnesota. And on November 25th, 1992, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, adding their $1.2 million contribution, purchased the land from Glacier Park Co., securing the future of Cedar Lake Park.

In 1995, construction of Phase One of the Cedar Lake Regional Trail was completed and the corridor has continued to grow and change in the years since--with prairie, a cedar grove, and maple and basswood forest. Most recently, construction of the Southwest Light Rail Project has further changed the area.

The Cedar Lake Park Association Records are currently being reorganized and processed by Michael V., one of our archival processing assistants hired as part of a $50,000 Legacy grant received by Special Collections this year. The grant supports processing many of our Minneapolis neighborhood association archival collections.

[wandering-jana]

A pair of Live Oaks. Audubon Bird Sanctuary, in Dauphin Island, Alabama.

Explore:

[izzy-b-hands]

16, 19, 22?

YL!!! Thank u for these 🫂

16. Post a picture from the beginning of the year

A picture of my baby girl Nisha that I took in mid-January!!

19. What’re you excited about for next year?

A lot, despite the ongoing depression trying to convince me otherwise lol. I'm looking forward to continuing my search for a new/better job (maybe one of the local libraries will finally open up a page position! Or something else remote will come through!) Housemate and I have a lot of potential local trips planned throughout the next year, and even if we only get to a few of them, I'll be more than happy bc it's so many new places for me to see!!

22. Favorite place you visited this year?

Ooh that's a close one and it is a tie, but to mention just one: the Audubon bird sanctuary that's not too far from Housemate and I was definitely in the top 5! I could have laid out there on the sandbar watching plovers hop around for hours if they would have been open that long djfalkajs.

[ddejavvu]

Idk about craziest but the most memorable thing that happened was driving back from Nashville with my little brother and seeing a wild turkey run out from the treeline at the side of the freeway and not even having time to process that it was taking off before it caved in the windshield of the rental we were in. (We both were fine, and I had the damage protection on the car, so it wasn't a hit to my insurance or anything. So we just kind of. Sat there and laughed. What else can you do, yknow? We're pretty sure the turkey also ended up walking away from the incident, albeit a little worse for wear.)

It was a wild 6-ish hour long series of misadventures from there involving county lines, tiny towns in the middle of nowhere, and a conveniently relocated ex-roommate who graciously picked us up to take us to the airport to get a replacement

This ex-roommate cheerfully informed us on the way to the airport that we'd been driving through the Audubon State Park (a very famous bird sanctuary) at the time 😅

OH MY GOD 😭 HOW were you able to drive through a sanctuary without getting in trouble?!?! that sounds like the plot of a sitcom omg

tell me the craziest shit that happened to you this year

[beakuency]

Beakuency January 2023 Dave Decker (Rheinstrom Hill Audubon Center and Sanctuary)

Listen to this episode here!

On today’s episode, Mayuko speaks with Dave Decker, the land steward of Rheinstrom Hill Audubon Center and Sanctuary in Hillsdale, NY about tips for beginner birders, the sanctuary’s bird-friendly forest management training programs for landowners, and immediate actions we can take at home to help birds not only survive the climate crisis but thrive.

Plus tracks from “Words and Silences” a music portrait of the Cistercian monk and writer Thomas Merton by Brian Harnetty, a song by Allysen Callery, and field recordings of birds in Venezuela by Jean C. Roché.

[capecodadventurepictures]

Cedar Waxwing at Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Plymouth 12/26/22 #cedarwaxwing #waxwing #cedarwaxwings #birds #bird #birdphotography #birdsofinstagram #birdwatching #birdwatcher #birds_adored #birding #birdlovers #birdingphotography #birdsofmassachusetts #birdsofnewengland #bird_watchers_daily #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #nature_perfection #tidmarshwildlifesanctuary #plymouth #plymouthma #newengland #wildlifeportraits #wildlifeplanet #naturegram #nature_lovers #my_capecod_adventure_pictures #massaudubon More photos at https://capecodadventure.photos (at Mass Audubon Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm17EaoOwHj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[railwayhistorical]

Thirty Years Ago—and a Loss

I heard of a passing recently: Ralph Odell. In one of my previous lifetimes, I was able to go birding with three fellows: Henry Turner, Marc Breslav, and Ralph Odell—I was privileged to be on a bird-a-thon team with them in both 1990 and 1991. This was out of the Putnam Highlands Audubon Society, fifty miles north of New York City, in Philipstown, across the Hudson from West Point.

A bird-a-thon is a competitive event where teams strive to see as many species they can in a 24-hour period. We used this activity to raise money for our chapter, and would be successful enough to put up a building at Constitution Marsh Sanctuary, in Garrison, New York.

I had become a rabid birder immediately after moving out of Brooklyn in the spring of 1989. I fell in with the Audubon crowd in Garrison and made acquaintance with Marc Breslav (bearded fellow seen here). He, in turn, invited me to join their bird-a-thon team in 1990. Henry Turner (man with mustache here) was an outstanding birder who traveled the world building his life-list; he took me under his wing and taught me much about birding, for which I’m thankful. Ralph Odell (clean-shaven, seen alone in final image above) was a kind, older gentleman, soft-spoken, widower, who had been a school teacher in Garrison. Despite me being green, we won the competition during my first year, that of 1990.

I believe we typically began on Jones Beach, and Jamaica Bay, on Long Island, and worked our way back up to Putnam County. We’d then go further north and west, to Bashakill Marsh, over in Sullivan County, then back down to Bear Mountain, and other nice spots around the Hudson River. The point is to hit as many types of habitats as possible, and thus see the most species. After our win, I would be awarded a free week’s stay at the National Audubon’s camp on Hog Island, Maine.

But more importantly than that, I got to hang out with these people—we had fun, enjoyed the out-of-doors, and raised money for an organization that looks after the health of migratory bird species. I remember Ralph being a nice man, but it’s been a long time—his obituary reminded me of what I did know about him, and informed me of things about his life I did not know—I’ll link it here. I wish I’d spent more time with him when I had the chance.

Six images by Richard Koenig; taken in the state of New York during the years of 1990 and 1991.

[anncorn8899]

Oak Brook's Environmental Conservation Efforts: Parks, Wildlife, and Initiatives in Illinois.

Oak Brook, Illinois, a thriving suburban community west of Chicago, is renowned for its dedication to environmental conservation. As urbanization continues to challenge natural landscapes, Oak Brook stands out with its robust initiatives aimed at preserving parks, wildlife, and overall environmental health. This article delves into the village's efforts in maintaining ecological balance, emphasizing its parks, wildlife conservation strategies, and community-driven environmental initiatives.

Parks: The Green Lungs of Oak Brook

Oak Brook, Illinois is home to an impressive array of parks that serve as vital green spaces for both residents and wildlife. The Oak Brook Park District manages several key parks, each offering unique environmental and recreational benefits.

Central Park is one of the largest and most frequented, encompassing over 70 acres of lush greenery. It features extensive walking trails, picnic areas, and a lake that attracts numerous bird species. The park’s design integrates natural landscapes with recreational facilities, ensuring minimal disruption to the local ecosystem.

Mayslake Peabody Estate stands out for its historical and ecological significance. The estate, which includes a Tudor Revival-style mansion, is surrounded by prairies, woodlands, and wetlands. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has worked diligently to restore these natural habitats, making the estate a sanctuary for native flora and fauna.

Dean Nature Sanctuary is another gem, focusing on environmental education and preservation. This sanctuary offers a quiet retreat with its ponds, native plantings, and wildlife observation areas. The park is designed to support local biodiversity, providing habitats for amphibians, birds, and small mammals.

Wildlife Conservation: Protecting Biodiversity

Oak Brook’s commitment to wildlife conservation is evident in its numerous initiatives aimed at protecting local species and their habitats. The village collaborates with several environmental organizations to monitor and enhance biodiversity within its parks and natural areas.

One significant effort is the Oak Brook Habitat Restoration Project, which targets invasive species removal and native species reintroduction. This project, supported by local volunteers and experts, focuses on restoring prairie and woodland areas to their natural states. By doing so, the project helps to increase the populations of native plants and animals, ensuring a healthier ecosystem.

The Bird Conservation Program in Oak Brook is another key initiative. The village has designated certain parks as bird sanctuaries, providing safe havens for migratory and resident bird species. Efforts include the installation of birdhouses, feeding stations, and educational signage to raise awareness about the importance of avian conservation. Programs like these have led to a noticeable increase in bird diversity and numbers in the area.

Additionally, Oak Brook participates in regional conservation efforts through partnerships with organizations such as the DuPage Birding Club and the Illinois Audubon Society. These collaborations facilitate broader conservation strategies, including regional wildlife monitoring and habitat connectivity projects.

Community Initiatives: Engaging Residents in Conservation

Central to Oak Brook’s environmental success is the active involvement of its community. The village recognizes that lasting conservation requires the support and participation of its residents. Various community-driven initiatives have been established to foster a culture of environmental stewardship.

The Green Champions Program encourages residents to adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives. This program offers workshops, resources, and incentives for activities such as composting, rainwater harvesting, and energy conservation. By empowering individuals with knowledge and tools, the program helps reduce the overall environmental footprint of the community.

In schools, environmental education is integrated into the curriculum through the Eco-Schools Program. This initiative, part of a global effort to promote environmental awareness among students, involves projects like school gardens, recycling programs, and energy audits. By engaging young minds, Oak Brook ensures that future generations are equipped to continue the village’s conservation legacy.

The Adopt-a-Park Program is another innovative effort where community members and local organizations can "adopt" a park or natural area. Participants commit to regular clean-up events, invasive species removal, and minor maintenance tasks. This program not only helps maintain the parks but also strengthens community bonds and fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the environment.

Looking Ahead: Sustainability and Growth

As Oak Brook continues to grow, its commitment to environmental conservation remains steadfast. Future plans include expanding green spaces, enhancing water conservation efforts, and promoting green building practices. The village is also exploring renewable energy options to reduce its carbon footprint.

Innovative projects such as the Sustainable Landscaping Initiative are being developed to promote native plants and reduce water usage in public and private spaces. This initiative aims to transform Oak Brook’s landscaping practices, making them more sustainable and resilient to climate change.

Furthermore, Oak Brook’s leadership in environmental conservation serves as a model for other communities. By balancing development with ecological preservation, Oak Brook demonstrates that growth and sustainability can coexist harmoniously.

Conclusion

Oak Brook, Illinois, exemplifies a community that values and actively pursues environmental conservation. Through its extensive parks, wildlife protection efforts, and community engagement programs, Oak Brook not only preserves its natural heritage but also fosters a culture of sustainability. As the village moves forward, its innovative approaches and unwavering commitment to the environment will continue to ensure a vibrant, healthy ecosystem for generations to come.

[petnews2day]

Felix Neck Bird-a-thon - The Martha's Vineyard Times

New Post has been published on https://petn.ws/ZwnpM

Felix Neck Bird-a-thon - The Martha's Vineyard Times

Male cardinal chowing down. —Matt Pelikan Gather your birding buddies and put your competition hat on. Mass Audubon’s Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary is holding its 41st annual fundraiser. Teams of birders will set out to spot the most species in 24 hours. If you love birds, this is a great way to show off your […]

See full article at https://petn.ws/ZwnpM #BirdNews

[theburrowsgarden]

Introduction! 🦉

Welcome to The Burrow’s Garden! My name is Amy, and I am a Master’s student with Miami University, Ohio, working towards a degree in biology with a focus on conservation sciences. I am here to tell you everything there is to know about western burrowing owls, and what you could do in your own home garden to help out these lovely little puffballs–maybe even have one move into your own backyard! Backyard-less? Stay tuned, I’ve got something for you, too!

First thing’s first: what is a burrowing owl? Western burrowing owls (scientific name Athene cunicularia hypugaea) are one of two subspecies of burrowing owl found in the United States, the other being their close cousins, the Florida burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia floridana). The western burrowing owl can be found in a range of habitats, from grasslands to urban parks and gardens throughout the western half of North America, from Mexico all the way up to southern Canada!¹ 

Approximate range of western burrowing owls. Credit to The Cornell Lab of Orinthology.

Why would you want one in your yard? First of all: they’re incredibly cute. These little owls weigh about as much as a stick of butter, with brown and tan speckled feathers, lanky legs, and the most stern looking eyebrows a bird can muster. More importantly: they eat all sorts of things we don’t like in our yards. Field mice digging up your grass? They’ve got you covered. Grasshoppers eating your flowers? Not a problem. Caterpillars, beetles, lizards, you name it: insects and small vertebrates are fair game.

Oh my god they’re baby. Credit to Kevin Cole.

What’s the catch? We-e-ell… Despite what their name suggests, burrowing owls don't generally do the digging themselves. Instead, they rely on the burrows of other small critters to call home. Burrowing owl populations have been declining throughout the United States, and the primary drive is thought to be the lack of burrowing rodents.¹ No burrowing rodents, no burrows. No burrows, no owls!

So, what can you do? Learning to co-exist with burrowing rodents plays a major part in making sure that burrowing owls have someplace to call home. And while they may seem annoying at first, burrowing rodents play a major part in nutrient cycling in soil and increasing biodiversity.² Whether your garden is full of ornamentals, native plants, or any combination of the two, having burrowing rodents around can help the ecosystem–and your garden–stay healthy and resilient. While I can’t guarantee that a burrowing owl will come around as your new neighbor, I hope that I can at least make a case for why keeping the peace with some of the critters we may call “pests” can benefit you and your plants in the long run!

Not a gardener? Not a problem! There are tons of other ways you can help burrowing owls from the comfort of your couch. The Burrowing Owl Recovery Program runs Wildwatch Burrowing Owl on Zooniverse, where you can help researchers sort through trail cam photos of western burrowing owls to get a better idea of how many fledglings are born each year and how they behave. And, this is going to sound crazy, you don’t even need to register an account. One less password to worry about.

The types of burrowing owl antics you’ll see on Wildwatch Burrowing Owl. Don’t worry–they’re not dead. It just isn’t their turn with the braincell.

Want to see a burrowing owl in person? I get it, you want a sneak peek of the real deal. Good news: you’ve got plenty of options. You can visit reputable AZA accredited institutions such as the San Diego Zoo, Phoenix Zoo, or Big Bear Zoo and visit their burrowing owl exhibits! If you’re the outdoorsy type, you can connect with your local Audubon chapter and join them for bird watching hikes, habitat restoration, or visit an Audubon-run sanctuary. 

¹Klute, D., Ayers, L., Green, M., Howe, W., Jones, S., Shaffer, J., Sheffield, S., & Zimmerman, T. (2003). Status assessment and conservation plan for the western burrowing owl in the United States. United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usfwspubs/483

²Davidson, A. D., Detling, J. K., & Brown, J. H. (2012). Ecological roles and conservation challenges of social, burrowing, herbivorous mammals in the world’s grasslands. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 10(9), 477–486. https://doi.org/10.1890/110054

[gulfcoastinspired]

"Wings of Serenity: Exploring the Audubon Bird Sanctuary on Dauphin Island, Alabama"

Slideshow of the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary September 2022 Nestled on the shores of Dauphin Island, Alabama, the Audubon Bird Sanctuary stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of nature and spiritual reflection. This sanctuary, a jewel along the Gulf Coast, invites visitors to embark on a journey through maritime forests and dunes, creating an immersive experience that goes beyond…