Threatened Burrowing Owl Released in Gilroy

Gracious country living epitomizes this unique estate. Situated
in quiet rural area amid rolling hills and meadows. With abundant
wildlife and creeks, the property is a natural wonderland.
Gracious country living epitomizes this unique estate. Situated in quiet rural area amid rolling hills and meadows. With abundant wildlife and creeks, the property is a natural wonderland.  Friendly, established neighborhood. Includes a charming one-room fixer-upper with extensive hallways and natural flooring.

 If the burrowing owl could write its own real estate ad, this would be the perfect location for it to live and raise its family. The 9-inch bird-of-prey takes over abandoned burrows already constructed by ground squirrels.

Using its beak and feet, the little bird is a born decorator and will reshape and extend the tunnel up to 10 feet long, the better to protect its clutch of 7 to 10 eggs. The owl lines the burrow with grass and manure, attracting dung beetles and other large insects, such as grasshoppers, which are favorite foods.

The grassy habitat is also a prime source of small rodents, the owl’s other main meal, which it typically hunts at dusk and dawn.

 The Burrowing Owl has been called “rattlesnake owls” because juveniles owls make a buzzing sound like the snake when threatened, and sometimes “howdy owls” because they bob up and down when approached, not in welcome as the name suggests, but as a warning to predators.

 This particular burrowing owl was observed flying into a store window in Gilroy. Perhaps it was looking for its mate and saw the reflection. Burrowing owls are a social bird and it is highly unlikely to have been “attacking” the image.  Bulldozers had been grading the land nearby and may have startled and frightened the bird. 

Whatever the reason, the collision with the window caused damage to the owl’s wing and it was unable to fly away. Rescuers brought it to the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, where an examination fortunately revealed that there were no fractures. However, the wing was severely bruised and required pain medication and recuperation. 

Meanwhile, volunteers worked to specially prepare the outside enclosure and built a burrow out of dirt, grass and branches.  Within a week, the owl was transferred to his temporary home to build up strength and stretch his wings.

 After two months, and once the health of the bird was assured, the search was on to find the owl a new, permanent and safe home. The Burrowing Owl was once a common sight around the western United States, often seen perched on fence posts and on burrow mounds, but is now threatened and is listed as a California Species of Special Concern. Its decline is caused by the poisoning of ground squirrels and prairie dogs, which create the burrows, and from loss of habitat due to urban development. Ruth Troetschler of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society and Robert Shields from the Gilroy Environmental Action Committee took on the task of locating a new home for the owl. They helped secure a prime site at a large, protected location in the South Valley where other burrowing owls were known to have set up colonies.  When the owl was released on a clear November morning, he flew to nearby bushes, surveyed the neighborhood and set out to meet some new feathered friends.

WERC, the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, provides the community with rehabilitation services for orphaned, injured and sick native wildlife. Through its educational programs, WERC encourages a peaceful coexistence between civilization and our native wildlife. WERC does not receive operating funds from any government agency to care for wildlife and is not allowed to charge a fee for this service. It is supported solely by donations from businesses and the public. To contact WERC, call (408) 779-9372 or visit www.werc-ca.org.