Whooooo' Cares

1
Whooooo. Cares?

• Nancy J. Richie
• Environmental Specialist
• City of Marco Island

2
The Florida Burrowing Owl

• Speotyto cuniclara floridana
• In Greek, Speo means cave and Tyto
  means owl, so the actual name is Cave Owl.
• The Florida Burrowing Owl digs burrows and is the
  only owl species that nests underground.

3
A PROTECTED SPECIES

• Species of Special Concern
• Burrow, nest, eggs, chicks and adult owls are
  protected.

4
What Do Burrowing Owls Look Like?

• 9 inches Tall size of a water bottle!
• 20-24 inches Wingspan
• Bright Yellow Eyes that can not move
• Head can move 270 degrees
• Beak or Bill is greenish yellow or yellow
• Sandy Brown in color with scattered white spots
  and bars with a dark brown collar around their
  neck
• Tail is short almost invisible
• Girl (female) Owls are darker than Boy (male)
  Owls

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A Beautiful Marco Island Burrowing Owl
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Range Where are the Owls Found?

• Burrowing Owls are found from Canada to South
  America, mostly present in the Western United
  States, but a large permanent population is in
  Florida.

7
Habitats Where the Owls Dig

• Historically, treeless, grasslands of central
  Florida
• Well-drained, level, cleared and mowed lots
• Low vegetation
• Examples golf courses, playgrounds, airport
  fields, Marco Islands vacant lots

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Marco Islands Owl Population
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Burrowing Owl Chicks

• Clutch sizes average 5-8 small round white eggs.
• Incubated for 28-30 days by female
• Chicks emerge from the burrow when they are three
  weeks old
• Chicks are fledged (can fly!) at 42-44 days.

10
Whoooo Cares??? WE DO!How Can YOU Protect the
Owls?

• Do not destroy the burrow unless it is entirely
  necessary.
• Mark the burrow and place a T-Perch near the
  opening.
• Use Pesticides Chemicals at a minimum.
• Re-Locate the burrow by using a T-Perch in a an
  area that would attract an owl

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WHOOOO NEEDS YOUR HELP?

• The Marco Island
• Burrowing Owls!
• Whoooo Cares?
• I do and
• you should too!