Burrowing (Speotyto cunicularia) Owl survival in prairie Canada

Kort M. Clayton; Josef K. Schmutz

Treesearch

Burrowing (Speotyto cunicularia) Owl survival in prairie Canada

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Kort M. Clayton, Josef K. Schmutz

Year:

1997

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

In: Duncan, James R.; Johnson, David H.; Nicholls, Thomas H., eds. Biology and conservation of owls of the Northern Hemisphere: 2nd International symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-190. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 107-110.

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Abstract

We studied survival of the endangered Burrowing Owl (Speotyto cunicularia) using radio-telemetry in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. Adult females exhibited the highest mean survival (0.83) whereas adult male (0.46) and juvenile (0.48) rates were similar. Most mortality occurred during the post-fledging period when there was a peak of activity around the nest. The greatest mortality from vehicle collisions occurred in a fragmented agricultural landscape where predation was also the lowest. Our survival estimates, along with other considerations, suggest that low annual survival is potentially limiting Burrowing Owl populations on the Canadian prairies.

Parent Publication

Biology and conservation of owls of the Northern Hemisphere: 2nd International symposium

Citation

Clayton, Kort M.; Schmutz, Josef K. 1997. Burrowing (Speotyto cunicularia) Owl survival in prairie Canada. In: Duncan, James R.; Johnson, David H.; Nicholls, Thomas H., eds. Biology and conservation of owls of the Northern Hemisphere: 2nd International symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-190. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 107-110.