Wilder Institute at Calgary Zoo continue conservation efforts with burrowing owl program (Image Supplied)

By Brian Konrad

Twenty burrowing owls returned to native grassland near CFB Suffield

May 22, 2022 | 9:13 AM

CALGARY — Twenty burrowing owls are back living in their native grassland habitat, after being returned by members of the Wilder Institute at the Calgary Zoo.

Burrowing owls are an endangered species due to loss of habitat, climate change and other changes to their environment.

Canada’s burrowing owl population has declined more than 90 per cent in the past 40 years, and the low survival rate of owlets hatched in the wild is limiting their population from growing.

In a release, the Wilder Institute says last-hatched owlets within each wild family of burrowing owls have about a three per cent chance of surviving their first year.

In collaboration with the Calgary Zoo, the institute hasdeveloped a Head Starting conservation effort that brings these youngest owlets into human care.

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They grow up in a controlled environment without threats from predators, extreme weather, competition for food and resources and other factors.

Once the owls are ready to go back to the wild, they are moved back to the Canadian grasslands, near where they originally hatched, into secure burrows installed by the team.

To ensure that these one-year-old owls can safely mate and lay eggs, a netted enclosure is placed around owl pairs and their burrows, and the new couples are provided with food until eggs are laid.

Head Start Program captures endangered owlets and returns them after one year to their native grassland

To date, 152 owlets have fledged from head-started owl nests.

The team at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo hopes to see these 20 owls mating and laying eggs this season. Soon, the netted enclosures will be removed, so the owls can take their first official steps back into the wild

The Wilder Institute and Calgary Zoo work in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada and Alberta Environment and Parks on this project, and is thankful to local landowners and Canadian Forces Base Suffield for allowing them to work on their land.

To learn more about our burrowing owl conservation program, head to https://wilderinstitute.org/conservation/burrowing-owl/