Earth Day Treat – Standing 5 Feet Away From Burrowing Owls!

Burrowing owls love grassy open areas, and are very common in South Florida. The problem is, that like many other species, they are being threatened due to land development. The State of Florida has declared them a protected species to help prevent further destruction. It is common to see roped off sections of fields in the Miami area where they have burrowed in the ground. These adorable owls are unique in that they are active during the day. This is good news for humans, because we can observe them during the daylight hours. Don’t get too close, because they tend to feel threatened and get nervous!

I took these photos on the playground of our local elementary school. Thanks to the cooperation of these creatures, my Nikon D40′s telephoto lens and perfectly blue skies, I was able to capture their unique beauty. The owls often nest in holes that were already dug by other creatures or by construction crews. The mom’s lay up to 8 eggs, and the babies appear from the burrows only a couple of weeks after birth. Unfortunately there were no babies in sight. I’ve seen them before, and they are the cutest, fluffiest little birds on earth.

In addition to land development and flooding land, burrowing owls are threatened by insecticide use and their predators – large snakes, raccoons and cats. The owls hunt for insects, lizards, frogs, small rodents and snakes.

Their bright yellow eyes and piercing pupils are like a ray of sunshine on a dark, gloomy day.

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