Should the western burrowing owl be named a California endangered species?
State wildlife officials are asking for the public's thoughts on whether to list the western burrowing owl as a threatened or endangered species in California.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is in the process of deciding whether to extend protections under the California Endangered Species Act to the small owl, scientifically classified as Athene cunicularia hypugaea, according to the agency. The species has been struggling due to habitat loss blamed on urban and suburban development, declines in ground squirrel populations, changes to agricultural practices, pesticide poisoning and predation.
"The species was historically found broadly across California in wide lowland valley bottoms, flat coastal lowlands and interior deserts," CDFW officials said in a written statement. "Currently, the western burrowing owl population is most abundant in the Imperial Valley and parts of the Central Valley."
While the San Francisco Bay Area has historically been one of the four main nesting areas for burrowing owls, they've become rarer in recent years.
"By 2010, the number of these owls in the Bay Area has declined to the brink of extinction," according to the Audubon California statement. "In fact, in 2009, fewer than 40 nesting pairs lived in Santa Clara Valley, mostly restricted to northern county bayside parks, golf courses, airports, and rural lands near Alviso and Mission College."
What are western burrowing owls?
As the name suggests, burrowing owls primarily roost and breed mainly in underground burrows, officials said.
The burrows are often inherited secondhand from ground squirrels, "so a population of ground squirrels is generally present in high-quality burrowing owl habitat," the CDFW statement said.
Habitats include deserts, grasslands, shrublands, and even human-altered landscapes such as golf courses and cow pastures. They depend on short vegetation in which they hunt insects and small rodents.
Burrowing owls are known to be the most diurnal of all owl species, remaining active during the daytime, according to Audubon California.
"It often perches near its hole. When approached too closely, it will bob up and down and finally dive into its burrow rather than take flight," according to a statement from the group.
About 70% of California's burrowing owls, amounting to about 4,000 breeding pairs, now take up residence in the Imperial Valley," Audubon California representatives added.
"Sadly, recent reports show that this amusing owl is declining in population in California," the statement said. "The population of this small bird has been in sharp decline over the last 50 years."
Who is leading the effort to protect the western burrowing owl?
Activists submitted a petition to state wildlife officials in March calling for the burrowing owl to be listed as a threatened or endangered species under the California Endangered Species Act.
Proponents included the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Burrowing Owl Preservation Society, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Urban Bird Foundation, Central Valley Bird Club and the San Bernadino Valley Audubon Society, officials said.
The California Fish and Game Commission moved to make the burrowing owl a candidate for protection in late-October. The candidate status provides temporary protection to the species pending a final decision.
What's next?
The October decision opened a 12-month timeframe for the Commission to issue a final determination on whether to list the burrowing owl as a threatened or endangered species, according to the CDFW.
"As part of the status review process, CDFW is soliciting information regarding the species’ ecology, genetics, life history, distribution, abundance, habitat, the degree and immediacy of threats to its reproduction or survival, the adequacy of existing management and recommendations for management of the species," the statement said.
Officials asked that data and comments be submitted by Feb. 15. They can be submitted by email to wildlifemgt@wildlife.ca.gov, with the phrase "Western Burrowing Owl" in the subject line, or by mail to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Diversity Program, attention Anne Hillben, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090.
The Commission planned to release its report publicly on the CDFW website at least 30 days before making a decision, authorities added.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Should the western burrowing owl be named an endangered species in CA?
