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BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report

Athene cunicularia
Burrowing Owl

 
Scientific Name: Athene cunicularia
English Name: Burrowing Owl
   
Provincial Status Summary
Status: S1B
Date Status Assigned: June 30, 1998
Date Last Reviewed: November 26, 2020
Reasons: Extremely small populations being supported by reintroduction efforts. Limited suitable habitat remaining.
 
Range
Range Extent: A = <100 square km
Range Extent Comments: The only confirmed recent Burrowing Owl breeding sites are located at four areas in the Thompson-Okanagan Plateau. Released populations are located near Lac du Bois Grasslands, Knutsford, Hamilton Commonage and Quilchena (BC Min. WLAP 2004). One breeding pair has been reported from the Fraser Valley (R.W. Campbell, pers. comm.). Casual sightings range from southeast Vancouver Island, the Cariboo-Chilcotin, and Kootenays (Campbell et al. 1990).
Area of Occupancy (km2): EF = 26-500
 
Occurrences & Population
Number of Occurrences: A = 1 - 5
Comments: The only confirmed recent Burrowing Owl breeding sites are located at four areas in the Thompson-Okanagan Plateau. Released populations are located near Lac du Bois Grasslands, Knutsford, Hamilton Commonage and Quilchena (BC Min. WLAP 2004) and are the direct result of recent reintroduction. Some consider that naturally-occurring populations of the burrowing owl became extirpated from B.C. in the 1960s (Wiggins 2005) however, there are consistent reports of owls near Merritt and BC Min. WLAP (2004) suggests these sightings may represent a small, extant wild population. Other records from the beaver Valley, Delta, Nanaimo, Campbell River and the West Kootenay are considered non-breeding, irregular events (BC Min. WLAP 2004).
Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: U = Unknown
Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: A = None
Comments: Very little burrowing owl habitat is on crown land; the only currently protected habitat occurs on Lac du Bois Grasslands Provincial Park and the Osoyoos Desert Centre (BC Min. WLAP 2004). Hamilton Commonage is also on crown land but this has grazing leases so is not protected. There are two EO's on private ranches with verbal agreements with landowners that provide a minimum level of protections (E. Leupin, pers. comm.).
Population Size: A = 1 - 50 individuals
Comments: More than 10 years of reintroduction efforts of captive-hatched Burrowing Owls have not yet resulted in a self-sustaining BC wild population. This is despite the fact that most captive-bred owls breed successfully in the wild after release, and several have returned from migration to breed in years subsequent to their release. Reports of wild breeding populations outside of release areas have not been reported since 1996, when a pair was reported in Oliver (Burrowing Owl Recovery Implementation Group 2008).
The existing Burrowing Owl population is very small in British Columbia and largely supported by ongoing captive-breeding and reintroduction initiatives (Campbell et al. 1990; Wellicome and Haug 1995). The 1997 breeding population in the Okanagan, where reintroduction efforts are no longer active, was estimated at a couple of pairs at most (D. Low, pers. comm.). In 1998, 62-64 birds were at the Kamloops sites, including 3 broods raised in the wild by captive bred parents (16 young), and two broods (with 11 young) that were captive-bred and released as family groups (D. Low, pers. comm.). As of 2004, Wiggins (2005) reports a population size of 9 for B.C. Of these owls, 4 were raised in the wild, 2 were returning captive-reared birds, and 3 were of unknown origin (Wiggins 2005).
Since 2005 the use of an enclosure-based soft-release technique has improved survival and breeding success (Mitchell 2008, Burrowing Owl Recovery Implementation Group 2008). In the Nicola Valley, the number of birds released, the number of wild-hatched juveniles produced and the total number of returning birds per year are as follows: 2005 - 81, 103, 10; 2006 - 91, 130, 15; 2007 - 120, 200, 18; and in 2008 - 137, 131, 14 (Burrowing Owl Recovery Implementation Group 2008, A. Mitchell, pers. comm. 2009).
 
Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected)
Degree of Threat: Substantial, imminent threat
Comments: The current population is so low, it is thought that demographic factors are more limiting than habitat availability--these factors including adult and juvenile mortality coupled with insufficient recruitment from neighbouring populations to recolonise currently suitable habitat (Wiggins 2005). This demography problem is likely the main threat currently facing the species. Other factors: Suitable habitat is extremely limited; the preferred type of grassland accounts for less than 1% of British Columbia's total land area (Blood and Low 1998). These limited, sparsely vegetated, grasslands are themselves threatened by urban and agricultural development which can cause degradation, fragmentation and sometimes complete loss of nesting habitat (Haug and Didiuk 1991; Wellicome and Haug 1995; Blood and Low 1998). Small, fragmented areas of suitable habitat may increase the owls' risk of predation, decrease their chances of finding separate nesting sites, and/or decrease their chances of finding a mate (Hjertaas et al. 1995). Although Burrowing Owls have, in some cases, adapted to living in the presence of humans (e.g., airports, fairgrounds, golf courses, abandoned lots, etc.) their risk of human-based disturbance or mortality is also quite high through predation by domestic pets, collision with vehicles, entanglement in fences and overhead wires and human harassment (Hjertaas et al. 1995). Availability of nesting burrows is also seen as a limiting factor as there have been declines in burrowing animals such as the Badger (Blood and Low 1998). Recent population model suggests that at least 100 captive bred individuals must be introduced into wild per year for continuation of the species in B.C. (E. Leupin, pers. comm.).
 
Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences)
Short-Term Trend: U = Unknown
Comments: Confirmed wild breeding populations have not occurred since 1996 (BC Min. WLAP 2004).
Formerly considered extirpated from British Columbia, efforts to reintroduce the species to British Columbia began in 1983. In 1989 a captive breeding and release program began in the Thompson-Nicola region. Despite some captive-hatched owls surviving, successfully breeding, and owls returning from migrations to breed, the wild B.C. population is not yet self-sustaining (Burrowing Owl Recovery Implementation Group 2008).
Long-Term Trend: A = Decline of >90%
Comments: Data on historic population size in B.C. is very limited but it is known that burrowing owls were a regularly occurring species in B.C. (BC Min. WLAP 2004) and relatively plentiful in the Okanagan (Cannings et al. 1987) and that a major decline occurred after 1928 (Blood and Low 1998). The species was described as extirpated between 1960 (Wiggins 2005) and 1980 (Blood and Low 1998).
 
Other Factors
Intrinsic Vulnerability: B=Moderately vulnerable
Environmental Specificity: A=Very narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements scarce.
Comments: Requires grasslands and are associated with denning mammals.
Other Rank Considerations: The current population is so low, it is thought that lowered demographic factors including adult and juvenile mortality, coupled with insufficient recruitment from neighbouring populations to recolonize is the most limiting factor (Wiggins 2005). Recent population model suggests that at least 100 captive bred individuals must be introduced into wild per year for the continuation of the species in B.C. (E. Leupin, pers. comm.).
 
Information Gaps
Research Needs: Need to investigate predator/prey interactions as it relates to productivity (E. Leupin, pers. comm.). Migratory routes need to be determined (BC Min. WLAP 2004). The optimal stocking level and grazing regime for livestock on breeding and foraging habitat should be experimentally determined. The effects that pesticide use in British Columbia has on the owl's prey and reproductive health should be investigated. E. Leupin and D. Low (pers. comm.) recommend research on predator avoidance training of captive bred owls, the effectiveness of reintroductions using individuals versus groups, and the role that grassland burning has on reintroduced Burrowing Owls.
Inventory Needs: Follow up on the reports of a potential extant wild population from the Merrit area.
 
Stewardship
Protection: Continued cooperation and communication with private land holders, especially ranchers.
Management: Refer to the IWMS guidelines (BC Min. WLAP 2004) for detailed management recommendations. The use of rodenticides and insecticides should be avoided near all breeding locations. Regulations developed by Agriculture Canada prohibit the use of Carbofuran within 250 m of occupied nest burrows (Haug et al. 1993). Public information and education products should also be distributed to landowners as part of an overall effort to encourage conservation and enhancement of Burrowing Owl breeding and foraging habitats. The scale and timing of the captive-rearing and release program should be evaluated to determine the likelihood of achieving a self-sustained wild population in British Columbia. The feeding habits of the Burrowing Owl should continue to be examined to determine the prey base for each British Columbia population and the habitat needs for each major prey species. Densities and types of available prey most likely have a major effect on the quality of otherwise suitable habitat types (Hjertaas et al. 1995). Migration routes and wintering areas are not well understood and international work in this area is warranted in an effort to reduce threats and increase survival during migration and over-wintering (Haug et al. 1993; Hjertaas et al. 1995). Wiggins (2005) suggests that demographic factors are more limiting than habitat availability so larger numbers (ie. > 50 birds/year) of releases will be required to re-establish a self-sustaining breeding population in B.C. Ernest Leupin (pers. comm.) suggests 100 birds/year is a minimum.
 
Version
Author: Dulisse, J., Cannings, S., and Ramsay, L.
Date: March 15, 2005
 
References
American Ornithologists' Union. 1957. The American Ornithologists' Union check list of North American Birds, 5th ed., Baltimore, MD. 691pp.
American Ornithologists' Union. 1997. Forty-first supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American birds. Auk 114:542-552.
Blood, D.A., and D. Low. 1998. Burrowing Owl. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch. 6pp.
British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. 2004. Burrowing Owl in Accounts and measures for managing identified wildlife. British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Victoria, BC. 52pp.
Brodie, D. and L. Holmes. 2019. Upper Nicola Reintroduction Program: Fourth Year in Review in Pellet Post. Fall and Winter 2019. Available at https://burrowingowlbc.org/images/Newsletters/PPWinter2019.pdf
Butts, K.O. 1973. Life history and habitat requirements of Burrowing Owls in western Oklahoma. M.Sc. Thesis. Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK.
Campbell, R.W., N.K. Dawe, I. McTaggart-Cowan, et al. 1990b. The Birds of British Columbia Vol. 2: Nonpasserines: Diurnal Birds of Prey through Woodpeckers. Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC.
Cannings, R.A., R.J. Cannings, and S.G. Cannings. 1987. Birds of the Okanagan Valley, B.C. Royal B.C. Mus., Victoria, BC. 420pp.
Cannings, R.J. 1998. The Birds of British Columbia - a taxonomic catalogue. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch, Victoria, Wildl. Bull. B-86. 266pp.
Coulombe, H.N. 1971. Physiological and physical aspects of temperature regulation in the Burrowing Owl, Speotyto cunicularia. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 35:307-337.
Haug, E.A, B.A. Millsap, and M.S. Martell. 1993. Burrowing Owl (Speotyto cunicularia). in A. Poole, and F. Gill, eds. The Birds of North America, No. 61. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia, and Am. Ornithol. Union. Washington.
Haug, E.A., and A.B. Didiuk. 1991. Updated status report on the burrowing owl Athene cunicularia hyugaea in Canada. Comm. on the Status of Endangered Wildl. in Can. (COSEWIC). 29pp.
Hjertass, D. et al. 1995. National Recovery Plan for the Burrowing Owl. Executive Summary. Rep. No. 13. Recovery of Natl. Endangered Wildl. Comm. Ottawa, ON. 33pp.
Leupin, E., and D. Low. 1999. Burrowing Owl (Speotyto cunicularia) Reintroduction in the Thompson-Nicola Region (1992-1997). B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Kamloops, BC.
Meads, L. 2019. 2019 The Year in Review in Pellet Post. Fall and Winter 2019. Available at https://burrowingowlbc.org/images/Newsletters/PPWinter2019.pdf
Mitchell, A.M. 2008. The effects of release techniques on the reproductive performance and post-fledging juvenile survival of captive-bred Western Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) in the Nicola Valley, British Columbia. MSc thesis, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia. 85
Test Reference
Wedgewood, J.A. 1978. The status of the Burrowing Owl in Canada. Rep. submitted to Comm. on the Status of Endangered Wild. in Can. Ottawa. 84pp.
Wellicome, T.I., and E.A. Haug. 1995. Second update of status report on the Burrowing Owl Speotyto cunicularia in Canada. Rep. submitted to Comm. on the Status of Endangered Wildl. in Can. Ottawa, ON. 23pp.
Wiggins, D.A. 2005. COSEWIC Status report on burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia). Rep. prepared for Comm. on the Status of Endangered Wildl. in Can. Ottawa.
 

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Suggested Citation:

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2005. Conservation Status Report: Athene cunicularia. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jul 8, 2025).