Currently in Goodyear AZ (Low 60 Chance Showers High 79)
What are burrowing owls you ask? Burrowing owls are small owls that live in dry, open areas where grasslands, rangelands, agricultural lands, deserts and scrublands are found. These small owls are less than 12 inches tall, have long legs and a short tail, are mostly brown with numerous white or tan spots, and have white eyebrows just above bright yellow eyes. As their name implies, burrowing owls actually make their homes underground. As opposed to the Florida Burrowing Owl that may dig their own burrows, Western Burrowing Owls found in Arizona rely on the abandoned burrows of mammals like ground squirrels, prairie dogs, badgers, coyotes, and foxes.
These cute owls are within walking and easy driving distance from our park. We saw this one from the road.
Then we saw another close to a burrow.
As we got closer the owl moved to a burrow but still kept an eye on us.
There are a lot of things to do while we are here longer than we planned. The outdoor ones like these will probably become fewer and fewer as the heat rises.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
It's good to have the owls around to keep the rodents in check. :)
ReplyDeleteThe entire time we were out in the desert, we never saw one owl. Darn the bad luck.
ReplyDeleteInteresting stuff:)
ReplyDelete