Florida Burrowing Owl Progeny

With great enjoyment, I have been studying the Florida Burrowing Owl since my first discovery of it in late February 2010.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in May 2010.

My observations have been at Cape Coral Library and the area immediately to its south from the intersections of Mohawk Parkway and Skyline Boulevard.

I have learned that this species of bird is also known as Ground Owl among other names.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed at Cape Coral Library in May 2010.

Behavior that I have read where the owl (typically male) will fly to heights of 100 feet or more above the ground has never been seen among the dozen or so birds I've been watching.

I suspect that this behavior is more common in the Burrowing Owl species of western North America.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed at Cape Coral Library in May 2010.

David Sibley has written that there is vagrant overlap of both species along the Atlantic coast.

While there has been the opportunity for me to make nearly 40 hours of close observation thus far, I have only observed the fledglings of the Florida Burrowing Owl for the first time this past week.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed at Cape Coral Library in May 2010.

The burrow I had first seen owlets at was one I had not studied at all due to the overgrowth of weeds for photography although had seen the presence of the adults there in passing on a few occasions (just north of Cape Coral Parkway).

I have also observed Burrowing Owl fledglings at the burrow I have photographed mating activity numerous times in the past few months.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed at Cape Coral Library in May 2010.

I took the opportunity to make a video with the 5dm2 of the fledglings as they made their way from a burrow when an adult gave the "all clear" signal at the burrow appropriate for the occasion.

The camera was set up to offer some interesting action where the adult fed the first out of the burrow an ant and apparently was teaching burrowing behavior to its young.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed at Cape Coral Library in May 2010.

When I had approached within 100 feet of the burrow, the fledglings made a beeline for safety and later returned to the car and drove by at much closer range with all five of the fledglings back in the open.

On an earlier visit to the area for owl study it was interesting to watch a pair of owls at another burrow that seemed to be somewhat behind in their next generation though I observed the interesting behavior of one owl preening the other.

The Burrowing Owl with Halloween Pennant above was photographed at Cape Coral Library in May 2010.

A Halloween Pennant was a surprise to be presented from one mate to another.

The food items favored by the Burrowing Owl observed thus far have included ants (taken at the entrance to the burrow), a grasshopper, Halloween Pennant, and a worm.

The owls are also known to favor rodents so a small rabbit seen in the area is not given much chance of survival.

This species is very reliable for study if you have the chance to visit.