We are pleased to report that Burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) have re-colonized in an important portion of the Natomas Basin! After several years of seeing Burrowing owls use the Conservancy’s preserves but not nest in them, we’re back to seeing them setting up home here.
We’ve learned that the owls typically don’t occupy their dens forever. Usually only for a few years and then they seek other locations. Some speculate that mites and other insects populate these dens/nests and drive the birds away. Whatever the reason, we’re happy to provide them with opportunities to “re-home” on the Conservancy’s preserves in the Natomas Basin.
We’ll admit that of the NBHCP’s “Covered Species,” the Burrowing owl is without question a staff favorite. That is one reason why we’re so thrilled they are back!
Photo taken on Conservancy preserves in 2025 by Conservancy staff.
Postscript and epilogue
Updating the above blog post.
Conservancy staff was saddened to see that the life of the Burrowing owl featured in our recent post (see above) appears to have been taken by predation. Photo of the remains below.
The leading suspect in the case is also featured with this post.
It’s easy to simply ascribe all this to “the circle of life.” And it is. But this is something much more. The Conservancy has worked hard and at considerable cost to restore Burrowing owl nesting in the Natomas Basin. When we achieve that, and then they are destroyed by predation, it is particularly confounding. But we won’t stop trying. We’ll continue to do all we can to tilt the odds in the Burrowing owl’s favor so that future populations can access the Basin as nesting habitat.
