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Three Burrowing Owlettes peeking out of their desert home.
What is a Burrowing Owl
Below is a transcription of the above sign found at the Valley of Fire Visitor Center.
Burrowing Owl – Athene cunicularia
HABITAT
Open country, such as prairies, sagebrush flats, pinyon-juniper slopes.
SIZE/DESCRIPTION
9 to 11 inches (23 to 28 cm) long, a small owl with very long legs, no ear tufts.
Color: light brown
FOOD
Rodents and insects
RANGE
Throughout Western North America and Florida, and in dryer parts of South and Central America.
ADAPTATION FOR SURVIVAL
Digs own burrow or uses one dug by animal and lines it with feathers and grasses.
At night, hunts insects on the wing.
COMMENTS
Many burrowing owls are killed along roads because they swoop low over the highway during their nightly hunts.
Drivers do not see them in time to avoid colliding with this dark-colored bird.
What is a Burrowing Owl
I am an outdoor enthusiast who would rather be on a backcountry backpacking trip than a stroll on the beach (although I do love the beach!).
Living in Las Vegas has afforded me the opportunity to easily explore the Southwest region of the United States.
A nature lover, I am often found at the end of the pack taking photos and videos of the wildlife found on the trails. Colorful flowers, desert animals, and unusual geological rock formations are often the majority of my photos.
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