 Background:
Information has been lacking in existing
land and wildlife management plans
and some populations of burrowing owls
have declined and others extirpated
throughout North America. The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service listed the
western subspecies as a Species at
Risk. Burrowing Owl populations vary
in degree to which they migrate, and
there is concern that human-induced
changes to over-wintering areas in
Mexico are the cause of the observed
declines. By comparing demographic
parameters of migratory populations
to that of resident populations, we
may begin to understand the underlying
causes of decline. Thus, several state
agencies and cooperative research units
are working to develop a coordinated
research program to compare populations
across multiple spatial scales. The
purpose of this project is to provide
information on the life history and
habitat use of burrowing owls to the
Western Working Group on Burrowing
Owls, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
status review committee, and Pima County
Board of Supervisors for incorporation
into the Pima County Habitat Conservation
Plan.
Location:
Tucson Basin of southern Arizona
Approach:
 We
will capture owls using proven trapping methods,
fit owls with backpack style radio transmitters
that are less than 4% of body weight, track
owls using radio receivers, measure habitat
characteristics used by owl, measure landscape
characteristics at nest burrows, and calculate
size of dispersal ranges. The nesting status
of all known nest burrows within the Tucson
Basin will be monitored.
Benefits:
We currently lack the ability to estimate
annual fecundity, natal recruitment, juvenile
survival, and adult survival of Burrowing
Owls within the Southwest and to compare
these results with other study areas within
the western Unites States, should enable
us identify the underlying causes of decline.
As a result, existing land use and wildlife
management plans fail to adequately incorporate
the needs of this species in their plans.
Results of this study, especially the delineation
of dispersal corridors, will be readily available
to Pima County for incorporation into their
Habitat Conservation Plan. Results of this
study will also be incorporated into the
U.S. Air Force's natural resource management
plan.
For more information
contact:
Renee Wilcox, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000
.
Phone: (520) 742-1911 E-mail: rwilcox@gf.state.az.us
Michael Ingraldi, Ph.D., Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000
.
Phone: (928) 523-5625 E-mail: mingraldi@cybertrails.com
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