This is a Burrowing Owl that lives in a park in Berekeley, CA. These little guys have about a 21″ wingspan but only weigh about 5 oz. According to the National Geographic Birds of North America, “the population is greatly reduced in much of the northern Great Plains by extermination of prairie dogs, conversion of prairies to cultivation, pesticide use, and habitat destruction. Declines continue. Many states list it as endangered or of “special concern”; endangered in Canada, with fewer than 1,000 pairs thought to remain.”
A sobering statement.
I also photographed this White-tailed Kite that same day. As you can see here, it is landing with a field mouse. Imagine what would happen to this raptor if the mouse had been poisoned. Birds can be 100 times more sensitive to pesticides than mammals.
Burrowing Owls used to be more common here as well, but owls along with raptors have to deal with threats like those listed above as well as deaths by feral and domestic cats, wind farms, impacts with cars, glass windows and lighted buildings and collisions with communication towers.
So what can you do to help?
Here are some suggestions I lifted from the latest Autumn issue of Wildcare published by the society of the same name.
- Support the removal of toxic pesticides from our food chain.
- Participate in coastal clean-up and other environmental improvement projects.
- Shop wisely for seafood and organic local produce.
- Keep your cat indoors, and support organizations that are working to humanely reduce feral cat colonies.
- Reduce your energy consumption.
- Support legislation that regulates such things as placement and operation of wind farms, and sets guidelines for monitoring industrial hazards.
- Support conservation programs that work to minimize bird deaths at electrical towers and in cities.
- Keep your bird feeders and baths clean to prevent the spread of disease. Keep pet cats indoors.
- Support organizations like Wildcare that work to educate people and care for injured birds.
I’ll be attending one of their upcoming fund raisers, “An Evening with Owls“ on November 20th from 6:00 to 9:30. There will be live owls and lectures. Food and Wine, an auction, and I will be selling prints there. Come if you can, and please support your local wild animal rescue center. The 0wls, hawks and others will appreciate it.







We had friends visiting from Boston back in August who had planned a trip to the Farallon Islands on August 22nd. I’ve lived in the city since 1980 and have never been, so having procrastinated long enough, I signed Charlene and myself up to go along.






