Burrowing Owl Use of Playa Prairie Dog Colonies

Authors

Andrew Teaschner
Mark C. Wallace
Clint Boal

Publication Date

6-1-2003

Abstract

In summer 2002, we initiated a study of Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) use of prairie dog towns in the Southern High Plains. We identified burrowing owl nests on 130 prairie dog colonies, surveyed in six counties (Lubbock, Crosby, Hale, Carson, Armstrong, and Randall). We measured productivity (number of fledglings observed per nest) of Burrowing Owls at 15 of these sites in 2002. We plan to capture and mark resident Burrowing Owls on these sites in winter 2002–2003 to identify whether breeding owls are resident or migratory pairs. Data collection will continue in summer 2003 and 2004. We are planning to assess burrowing owl nest selection and productivity in relation to Burrowing Owl residency, prairie dog colony size, prairie dog density, distance to playas and, indices of Burrowing Owl prey abundances.

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Recommended Citation

Teaschner, Andrew; Wallace, Mark C.; and Boal, Clint (2003) "Burrowing Owl Use of Playa Prairie Dog Colonies," Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society: Vol. 36: Iss. 2, Article 12.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tos_bulletin/vol36/iss2/12