Day 5: Burrowing Owl
Species: Burrowing Owl
Current status: Released
Number of days in care: 16 days
On October 6, 2024, So Cal Ship Services crew rescued a Western Burrowing Owl found floating 2 miles offshore in Goleta.
Photo by SBWCN volunteer, Angela R.
It was rescued and transported to SBWCN’s wildlife hospital with minor oil contamination, dehydration, and a swollen leg. It was stabilized, cleaned, and transferred to International Bird Rescue for specialized cleaning of oil. After cleaning, it was transferred back to us.
Photo by Ariana Gastelum
It spent 16 days in care, fully recovered, and was returned to the wild on October 22nd!
Washing of Burrowing Owl at International Bird Rescue. Video by Ariana Gastelum.
This rescue highlights the challenges migratory birds face and the dedication of our incredible community in protecting California’s Western Burrowing Owl population, currently under candidate status for the state’s Endangered Species Act.
Photo by Jeremiah Bender
Burrowing Owl Fun Facts:
Only 225 breeding pairs of Burrowing Owls remain in central-western and southwestern California, a region where they’ve been nearly wiped out. Following a vote by the California Fish and Game Commission, these owls will be protected statewide while the California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducts a full status review for endangered species candidacy, which may take 12 to 18 months.
Burrowing Owls are the only owl species that nests and roosts underground.
Unlike most owl species where females are larger than males, Burrowing Owls stand out with both sexes being the same size.
Burrowing Owls possess a remarkable ability to tolerate higher levels of carbon dioxide than most birds—a trait shared by other burrowing animals who live underground, where gas buildup is more common.
Before laying eggs, Burrowing Owls line their burrow entrances with animal dung, attracting dung beetles and other insects they feed on. They also collect discarded items like bottle caps and cigarette butts, possibly to signal that their burrow is occupied.
Burrowing Owls often stockpile food to ensure a steady supply during incubation and brooding. In times of abundance, their underground food caches can become quite impressive, with one observed in Saskatchewan in 1997 holding over 200 rodents.