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Burrowing Owls Utter Ubiquitous Warning Call
My last sighting was Christmas Eve. Not of the resident burrowing owls but of the biologists hired to evict them from reclaimed habitat. As I stood on a hill I could see shovels at work burying once fertile burrows, soil thrown over entrances where owls once sank out of sight from soaring overhead predators, and one-way doors strategically mounted to preclude a pair of owls that have remained at each other’s side for well over a year now.
It’s been four days since the 3rd round of eviction has taken place and enough time to make a survey of the damage and current status of the owls. I walked the property, secretly wishing for an encounter with the evictors if nothing else just to watch, take photos and maybe instill some discomfort as they continued their activities. But all was quiet for the moment. The overcast skies were appropriate considering the tone of the situation and prevented the onset of any glare that might keep me from spotting yellow eyes peering just over a burrow’s brim. But the hustle and bustle of the Western side of the property that I had come to so enjoy was noticeably absent; jack rabbits did not leap from cover as I passed, owls did not fleet to other burrows , and scampering squirrels were no more. All was truly quiet on the Western side.
And just beyond the Blue Ridge Development property line was a somewhat out-of-reach bastion of protection that a few owls utilized as a last line of retreat. It was a place of a transitional phase of grasses that was perfect for an owl that makes its life upon the ground and apparently not too shabby for ground squirrels either. But this area (owned by another developer) did not go unnoticed as the hillside was spotted with the sheen of plexiglass doors, upset burrows, and flags marking their locations. This safety corridor was now unavailable to the owls and squirrels, and was surrounded by unsuitably tall grasses on one side and decimated burrows on the other. The only retreat is eastward inside the Blue Ridge Development. A retreat that will be short-lived and is clouded by impending eviction doom. And that is precisely where the owls and squirrels have gone. A ubiquitous warning call emanated from fleeing squirrels and owls bobbed up and down as they signaled danger and attempted to ward off invaders. The property is now filled with a nervous group of inhabitants that cannot be blamed for their sudden feelings of mistrust.
Arrows indicate blocked owl burrows
It was on this day that I saw 5 owls.
It was over the last week that advocates have united not just for the protection of these owls, but to spark a change in the California Department of Fish & Game’s eviction practices and prevent a continuing decline of burrowing owls across the Bay Area. This is just a HINT of what’s to come over the next week, what is currently being explored legally, and what actions a group of conservationists, let’s just call them Friends of East Bay Owls for argument’s sake, will perform behind the scenes and on the frontline. Stay tuned as I plan to post new information daily on the plight of Antioch’s burrowing owls.
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Scott,
Your story reminds me of a time as a teenager I watched our local woods being cut down. At the time I viewed it as my play place and the animals home, I did not know any of the animals the way that you apparently do but I know your sorrow. There are so many great properties available that have already had these things done to them long ago, why do we need to do more? I’m sorry that you have to watch it. Take care.
Karl Tatgenhorst´s last blog ..Recapturing the Joy of Youth
Thanks Karl and hopefully we can generate a positive outcome from this situation, whether it be mitigation for these 11 owls or on a global scope a change in CDFG policy that works to protect the species for the future.
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[...] the Pooh? He was the only one in hundred acre wood that could spell his name. W-O-L. Beaver friend Scott Artis has been working hard to save the burrowing owls in Antioch. He was able to generate some modest [...]
Friends of East Bay Owls indeed! Also friends of Burrowing Owls everywhere. Thank you for going all out on this Scott. For those of you that don’t know, Scott has created a new website here: http://friendsofeastbayowls.org
Our fight for the Burrowing Owl is just beginning. I, for one, will not stop until the horrific practices of evicting these birds is stopped. I am emailing my entire list tonight to email our disdain to John McCamman, director of the California Department of Fish and Game. His email address is Director@dfg.ca.gov . If you have a few minutes to help these “species of special concern” in California, please send him an email asking him to change their policy on Burrowing Owl eviction to allow real relocation to safe habitats.
Larry Jordan´s last blog ..Bushtits For The Christmas Bird Count
And I second your call to action and will continue to fight as well. I guess you read my mind regarding friends of burrowing owls everywhere as I scooped up a variety of domains related just to that topic figuring we can extend/expand the fight to garner support over all of California not just the Bay Area.
Perhaps something we can discuss later.
Scott: Thanks for keeping us informed and keeping up the fight ….. has anyone considered taking the developer and CDFG to court to get an injunction? As you may know, the Center for Biological Diversity tried to list the owl as endangered, but was denied. Maybe they or Earthjustice would sue and use this situation as a test case to try and change CDFG’s practice and to create a push for state or federal protection. I’d be willing to make contact, if you all are game. I have a good friend who is an endangered species act specialist.
Hi Torri…thanks for the note and suppot. I have contacted the Center but any help would be great. I will send you an email with some additional details on what we are doing to move forward with protections.
As you have already indicated, the issue for burrowing owls is much bigger than just this colony.