Creating Burrowing Owl Habitat – Cub Scouts join the conservation effort

For those of you who are just connecting with Urban Bird Foundation for the first time (Welcome!), you may have noticed we have an affinity, well love, for burrowing owls. This stretches back to why we were founded and is evident in our work for the species, which spans on-the-ground restoration projects, owl and habitat protection, advocacy, research and education as part of our Burrowing Owl Conservation Network program.

This means we absolutely love lending a hand to other organizations and cities interested in preserving this unique owl. On Saturday, May 14, 2016, Urban Bird Foundation joined 35 cub scouts and parents from Fairfield’s Pack 100 to help create burrowing owl habitat at Serpas Ranch Open Space – protected land adjacent to and overlooking suburbia.

In addition to providing artificial burrow installation techniques, staff used audio and visuals to generate excitement for the owls, and, more importantly, to demonstrate the importance of the conservation work the scouts were undertaking. Because most Western burrowing owls do not dig their own burrows but rely on them year-round, the use of artificial burrows in areas where natural burrows are not available is a technique that has proven successful in protecting and restoring owl colonies.

Thanks to the City of Fairfield, Venture Crew 100, and Cub Scout Pack 100 for all your hard work! Click here to read the story from Fairfield-Suisun Daily Republic.