UPDATES FROM THE FIELD: Baby Owl Chicks Everywhere!

June 2024

Short-eared Owls

We are excited to share that our ongoing study on predation and nesting outcomes in Short-eared Owls in the Mission Valley is yielding promising results. Using a network of small cameras, we can monitor nests in the field closely. This year's breeding season began early, and with an abundance of prey, we anticipate a high number of nests. So far we are still surveying the entire study area, but have already located over 30 nests, a new record! The breeding season for Short-eared Owls can extend from March through July. During this crucial period, please be mindful of ground-nesting birds and avoid disturbing their habitats. Many nests fail and birds are killed due to mowing, haying, grazing, herbicide application, and spring burning.

Short-eared Owl chick nest with eggs and small chicks and on right, chick that has left its nest

L Photo: Here is a nest we found with newly hatched chicks and a pipping egg. Did you know that Short-eared Owls can lay up to 12 eggs!?

R: Photo: Short-eared Owl chick that has left its nest. These chicks spread out and hide in the grass, waiting for their parents to bring food and avoid predators. Watch your step!

Long-eared Owls:

Despite wrapping up our Long-eared owl project after 37 years, we have successfully located 10 nests and banded some of the young owls.

Long-eared owl chicks on ground and being banded

Great Gray Owls

This season, we haven't found as many Great Gray Owl nests as we hoped, despite extensive survey efforts. It appears that some pairs are not nesting this season, which is typical behavior when food resources are scarce.

Man releasing Great Gray Owl and someone holding a Great Gray Owl chick after banding

[Photo Credit: Troy Gruetzmacher]

Saw-whet Owls

The crew found 3 Northern Saw-whet nests this year. This small cavity nesting owl has a loud voice but a low-profile look. Can you see/find the nesting owl in the photo below?

Saw-whet owl peeking out of hole in tree

Boreal Owls

Last month ORI researchers found the first Boreal Owl nest in our study area in 6 years! Boreal Owls nest in boreal and subalpine forests that can be hard to access in the snow, making them a difficult species to find. The Boreal Owl nest box project has been going on since 1996 and this discovery gives us hope that we will find more nests in the future.

The team, consisting of Denver Holt, Hayley Madden, Matt Larson and Lauren Tate, carefully carried the chicks down from their nest box then banded them, took measurements, photos and brought them back up to their nest box.

Boreal Owl chicks on ground on left, on right Matt Larson is banding a chick while Lauren Tate holds owl

Burrowing Owls - Global Owl Project

Denver Holt and Beth Mendelsohn had the opportunity to visit the Global Owl Project’s burrowing owl research sites in Oregon. Thank you so much to the researchers and crew for hosting us! Congratulations on bringing this owl species back and achieving a banner nesting year, including natural nest sites in badger dug burrows. You can learn more about this 15 year extensive research study at: Global Owl Project on Facebook. [Photo: Solai LeFay placing a burrowing owl back into its nest after being measured and weighed].